Canadian developer Focus Graphite Advanced Materials has shipped two battery-grade samples to prospective offtake partners in the US for evaluation.

Focus worked in collaboration with American Energy Technologies (AETC), a US-based graphite processing and R&D firm, to produce two high-purity graphite materials sourced from its Lac Knife deposit for lithium-ion battery applications.

Its spherical coated natural graphite (CSPG, Batch GN250619002) anode material meets the standard grade CSPG specification of D50 ~23.9 µm and >99.95% purity, aligning with specifications used by leading battery producers.

Its non-spherical graphite fines (Batch GN250601001) is a highly conductive additive designed for lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery cathodes. The particle size distribution of D50 ~3.4 µm and BET surface area of 15.8 m²/g enable the additive to be used in a 50:50 blend with carbon black to improve cathode conductivity and enable thicker electrode designs, enhancing energy capacity for stationary energy storage systems, according to the company.

The battery-grade spherical graphite sample forms part of Focus Graphite’s portfolio of anode-grade offerings, including its Standard, Fine and Ultra Fine CSPG grades. These materials are designed to meet the needs to various battery segments from energy storage to fast-charging and high-power EV applications.

The non-spherical graphite additive aligns with the needs of developers targeting the rapidly expanding LFP battery market, which currently accounts for 99.9% of energy storage systems used in solar and wind installations.

AETC has completed modern batch production of the Standard grade CSPG with high quality control, enabling Focus to accelerate discussions with battery cell developers as well as cathode and anode manufacturers. Electrochemical testing of the cathode additive is underway to further demonstrate its performance advantages over conventional carbon black-only systems.

“Engaging potential offtake customers with tailored materials that meet industry standards—and in some cases exceed them—positions us to participate in high-growth battery segments, particularly those supporting renewable energy storage,” said Dean Hanisch, CEO of Focus Graphite. “Additionally, the updated product information bulletins for both our anode and cathode materials enhance our visibility to other prospective customers that prioritize North American supply.”

Source: Focus Graphite Advanced Materials