TELF AG analyzes the present and future role of graphite in the battery sector
A key resource
In every dialogue about the raw materials needed to manufacture batteries, our thoughts immediately turn to materials such as lithium or nickel, whose usefulness in these production processes is now well-known even to non-specialists. Another resource that plays an important role in these particular productions is graphite, a material that – thanks to its innate versatility – has found wide application spaces in storage technologies, in the production of lubricants, electronic components, and refractory materials.
In nature, this material is often found in carbon deposits, and in some cases, it is associated with some metamorphic rocks such as marble or schists. The largest natural reserves of this resource are found in India, Brazil, Canada, and China, and to obtain a pure material, the raw mineral is subjected to crushing and separation processes that return it to its best version. However, its natural properties make it interesting for various industrial applications. First, its high electrical and thermal conductivity is ensured by a unique layered structure that characterizes this mineral. Its ability to resist high temperatures and its excellent chemical inertia have made it particularly useful in numerous industrial processes, such as those involving batteries. By its peculiar structure, graphite has also stood out for its natural lubrication, ensured by the presence of layers of carbon atoms that can slide easily over each other.
The future of batteries
Over the years, some countries have managed to achieve excellent levels of quality in the production and refining of this material, becoming true global leaders in the sector. The ability to produce high-level graphite is especially useful for the battery sector, which has now become a very important device for powering electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Battery families appear to be constantly expanding, with new innovative solutions always on the verge of being discovered and tested. Lately, there has been an attempt to create new-generation batteries based on a different combination of raw materials, which could be used alongside traditional ones made with graphite, of which they could represent a potential alternative.
At the moment, graphite is used to create the anodes of lithium-ion batteries, which represent a good part of their total weight. In this sense, some ambitious attempts have already been made by various American companies, as can be read in a recent analysis focused on this topic. The most interesting ones concern prototypes of batteries made with a sulfur cathode and a lithium-metal anode or those based on a combination of silicon and carbon. In a few years, these batteries could already be installed not only on electric vehicles but also on e-bikes, scooters, and trucks.
The demand for energy storage systems appears to be constantly growing, particularly from the sectors related to electric vehicles and storage systems. In the historical situation we are experiencing, as the aforementioned analysis suggests, there seems to be room for all the solutions available on the market.
