QUT pair lead battery cathode project awarded $2.2 million grant through Quad program

A Queensland University of Technology-led team has been awarded a $2.2 million grant through the Quad Clean Energy Supply Chain Diversification Program to develop a novel battery cathode production method.

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Australia has committed $50 million to the diversification program, which was announced during May 2023 Leaders’ Summit for the Quad, a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

The lead on the project, titled Cost-Effective Cathode Production for Indo-Pacific Battery Markets, is materials researcher Professor Deepak Dubal.

According to a statement from QUT on Monday, Dubal’s team aims to “accelerate development of a highly energy-efficient, advanced heating process” developed at the university..

“This project aims to diversify the Indo-Pacific battery supply chain by introducing a scalable, sustainable process for manufacturing cathode materials using Australian critical minerals,” he said.

“Advantages of this novel process over conventional methods of heating critical minerals like lithium, sodium, cobalt and nickel are: faster processing – cuts hours to minutes; enhanced energy efficiency – lowers energy use and reduces carbon footprints; precise control over material properties – advanced battery safety, performance and lifespan.”

The project aims to take the novel heating method from an Australian lab to pilot-scale trials in Vietnam.

“By demonstrating a low-cost, low-carbon pathway for cathode production, we can build investment partnerships across Australia, Vietnam, South Korea, and India, strengthening Indo-Pacific energy security,” added the project’s co-lead, QUT’s Professor Viet Ngu (Vincent) Hoang.

“It is a major step toward building resilient, diversified supply chains and reducing Australia’s reliance on single sources.”

Picture: Hoang and Dubal (credit QUT)

Further reading

Quad commitment on semiconductor supply chain, tech principles

Australia urged to think strategically on battery value chains