This text is part of the special section Mines and natural resources
With its reserves of lithium, graphite and nickel and its hydroelectricity, Quebec is well placed to produce lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. Teams from the National Institute for Scientific Research (INRS) are trying to improve its efficiency in order to position the province as a leader in transport electrification know-how.
On a copper base, Natalie Herkendaal spreads a solution of silicon, to which she added graphene so that the electric current passes. Each time she repeats the operation, she slightly changes the recipe for a glue made of polymers. Its objective: to find the best combination of polymers to resist changes in the volume of silicon.
Lithium-ion batteries are mostly made of graphite. On the market, there is a tendency to favor the inclusion of 5 to 25% silicon in the graphite anodes in order to increase the autonomy of batteries and electric vehicles between each recharge. But the use of silicon creates quite a challenge. When the battery discharges, this material expands to the point of occupying three times the volume.
Natalie Herkendaal, a student in energy and materials sciences under the supervision of Professor Lionel Roué at the National Institute for Scientific Research (INRS), tries to solve the problem. To do this, it is looking for the ideal recipe for polymer glue to enable the anode to withstand such changes in volume and to remain effective over time.
“I grew up in Alberta in a region where a lot of oil is exploited, explains Natalie Herkendaal, winner of the 2023 “Three Minute Thesis” competition. There is an environmental crisis right now, and it inspires me enormously to be able to work on an innovation that has the potential to improve the environment today and for future generations. »
Concerted efforts
“Between what comes out of a mine and what goes into a battery, there is a whole process, explains Lionel Roué, professor at INRS and member of the joint implementation committee of the INRS Joint Research Unit. -UQTR on materials and technologies for the energy transition. You have to purify the graphite, make the flakes spherical, wrap them so that the reaction goes well. »
In addition to the inclusion of silicon in the anode, the researcher and his team are also working to transform the graphite coating, normally made with tar, with a greener material, based on biomass. They are also developing a technique to recycle and reagglomerate fine graphite particles often lost in the process. “There is not much done on the reagglomeration processes, we are quite innovative on this side, says Mr. Roué. Since it is necessary to have a product without any defect, there is a great need for research and development. »
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec — Nature et technologies recently awarded grants for research projects related to critical and strategic minerals. Lionel Roué’s project, Towards the production of high-quality Quebec graphite with low environmental impact for the Li-ion battery industryis one of the beneficiaries.
For now, the vast majority of lithium-ion batteries are made in China, a country that also dominates the exploitation of the graphite used in these batteries. But the province wants to make its place in the field. The opening of the Matawinie graphite mine in Lanaudière by Nouveau Monde Graphite and the opening of a graphite purification plant in Bécancour are part of this line.
“The field of batteries is on the rise, and we have a huge delay compared to Asian countries, especially China, observes Lionel Roué. Everyone wants to be able to produce batteries and Quebec is lucky at this level with [ses réserves] lithium, graphite, nickel, its hydroelectricity. There is a real and strong political will to develop a battery industry. »
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.