X-MAT, the advanced materials division of Semplastics, is pioneering an innovative, greener solution to utilizing coal for energy. The company has successfully fabricated a full cell battery by combining a commercial cathode and their proprietary ceramic coal composite anode. This coal composite is currently undergoing testing and has already achieved more than 450 cycles at a third-party laboratory, which is a significant step forward in the technology development. The team’s next step is to scale this technology for testing in single layer pouch cells.
The X-MAT technology can also be used to upcycle graphite from spent lithium-ion batteries.
“In the U.S., 95% of lithium-ion batteries aren’t being recycled,” said Bill Easter, founder of X-MAT. “Graphite isn’t an unlimited resource and one day we will run out. X-MAT’s team is combating this challenge by discovering innovative ways to recycle this resource and create new batteries that are just as powerful, if not more so, as their traditional counterparts — something many people thought would never be possible.”
Demand for lithium-ion batteries continues to grow, with no signs of it slowing down. Each year, demand is expected to grow by 25% resulting in 14 times growth by 2030. X-MAT revolutionary discovery can help meet this demand in an eco-friendlier way.
X-MAT has gained support for its work with batteries from the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory. In 2020, the company was awarded a nearly $1 million contract to help fund the research for utilizing coal in batteries. This isn’t the first time the NETL has contributed to X-MAT’s mission of developing new, cleaner ways to use coal — to date, the company has received $10.7 million in contracts and grants.
As the company continues its groundbreaking research on batteries, it has recently expanded its battery lab, located at the X-MAT headquarters.
To learn more about X-MAT, visit www.x-materials.com.
