HPQ Silicon Inc. (“HPQ” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: HPQ,
OTCQB: HPQFF, FRA: O08), a technology company
specializing in green engineering of silica and silicon-based
materials, is pleased to update shareholders on the latest battery
milestones achieved by its France-based affiliate, NOVACIUM SAS
("Novacium").
Rigorous ongoing testing protocols [3] (0.5C cycling at 25°C)
reveal that Lithium-ion 18650 batteries using a blend of graphite
and Novacium’s GEN3 silicon-based anode material achieve a 32%
capacity improvement and have only 5% of degradation compared to
graphite benchmarks at the 300-cycle mark.
"These results continue to demonstrate the
potential of our technology to significantly enhance energy density
and extend the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries," said Dr. Jed
Kraiem, COO of Novacium. "Assuming the observed degradation trends
continue beyond 300 cycles, our projection models indicate that by
around the 1,000-cycle mark, the GEN3 material’s performance should
equal the projected graphite benchmark performance at that stage
[4]."
Boosting Battery Performance and Coulombic Efficiency
with Silicon-Based Anodes at 300 cycles
Graph 1A highlights the superior capacity (in mAh) of 18650
batteries made with Novacium's GEN3 material (yellow line) compared
to the 100% graphite benchmark (blue line) over 300 cycles.
Batteries utilizing GEN2 (green line) and GEN1 (orange line)
materials, on the other hand, fail to maintain performance beyond
the 200-cycle mark. At 300 cycles, the data shows that GEN3
batteries sustain an average capacity of 3,606 mAh, significantly
outperforming the graphite benchmark’s 2,740 mAh.
Graph 1B provides a closer look at the performance degradation
(or Coulombic efficiency [5]) of the GEN3 silicon material over 300
cycles, showing a capacity retention of 93% compared to the
graphite benchmark's 98%—a modest 5% difference. Specifically, the
absolute capacity of GEN3 batteries (yellow line) decreased from
3,883 mAh to 3,606 mAh, while the graphite benchmark (blue line)
exhibited a slight reduction from 2,780 mAh to 2,740 mAh.
The data in Graph 1B reveals that between the 200 and 300-cycle
mark, batteries using the graphite benchmark experienced only a
0.6% capacity degradation (from 98.6% to 98.0%), while those made
with Novacium's GEN3 material showed a 3.2% drop (from 96.2% to
93.0%). These findings underscore two key points: first, the
coulombic efficiency of the graphite benchmark batteries matches
the performance of the best 18650 batteries on the market; second,
the efficiency trend of GEN3 batteries remains highly
promising.
“I am very excited by the fact that the latest results from our
graphite benchmark batteries and our partially optimized GEN3
material are attracting interest from participants in the battery
anode material industry,” added Dr. Kraiem. “This is a testament to
the value of the battery knowledge we have acquired, and the
silicon anode materials work we've done over the past year."
HPQ's Patent Application for Continuous SiOx
Manufacturing Moves to PCT National Phase
Silicon Oxide (SiOx), the key starting material in producing
GEN3 silicon-based anode materials for batteries, is central to our
innovation. HPQ is pleased to announce that the provisional patent
application, filed in France in November 2023, for a continuous
Silicon Oxide (SiOx) manufacturing process, is advancing to the PCT
National Phase. This milestone follows very encouraging feedback
from patent examiners who have reviewed our provisional
application.
Current industrial SiOx manufacturing processes rely on the
volatilization of quartz (SiO₂) and Upgraded Metallurgical Grade
Silicon (UMG Si) [6] in reactors. These processes are typically
carried out in batches, which limits productivity, increases costs,
and leads to higher energy consumption.
HPQ’s new patented process aims to transition to continuous SiOx
production, addressing key limitations by tripling productivity,
reducing energy consumption by 20%, and lowering costs by 25-30%.
Additionally, the process is designed to produce higher-quality
silicon-based materials, offering greater homogeneity and less
contamination—attributes that are better suited to the battery
market while delivering a more favorable carbon footprint [7].
Another notable advantage of the proposed process is that it can
be seamlessly integrated into HPQ PUREVAPTM QRR without requiring
significant changes to the reactor design, thereby minimizing
technological development risks. Additionally, it’s important to
note that the selling price of SiOx is approximately 2 to 3 times
higher than that of UMG silicon [8].
“Our battery cycling results clearly demonstrate that our
silicon-based anode material technology is in an enviable position.
The progression of our SiOx patent application to the PCT National
Phase marks another significant step forward in developing
proprietary processes that will enable HPQ to manufacture
silicon-based anode materials with low operating and capital costs,
as well as a low carbon footprint,” said Bernard Tourillon,
President and CEO of HPQ Silicon Inc. and NOVACIUM SAS. “This could
very well position HPQ and NOVACIUM as key players in delivering
next-generation energy solutions that meet both performance and
sustainability goals for the industry.”
REFERENCE SOURCES
[1] |
Novacium technical team analysis of the data from the ongoing
charging and discharging cycle tests conducted at a world-leading
university, the name of which is kept confidential for competitive
reasons. |
[2] |
Link to the source of the
information on MuRata Manufacturing high-performance
US18650VTC6 |
[3] |
Cycling parameters from:
Ratnakumar Bugga et al. “Performance of Commercial High Energy and
High Power Li-Ion Cells in Jovian Missions Encountering High
Radiation Environments”, NASA Battery Workshop November 19-21,
2019., |
[4] |
Novacium’s technical team has
used data from the ongoing charge-discharge cycle tests to build a
model projecting future battery performance up to 1,000 cycles.
These projections will be updated as new cycling results are
received. |
[5] |
Link to information on what is
Coulombic efficiency. |
[6] |
The purity level of Upgraded
Metallurgical Grade Silicon is usually between 3N and 4N. |
[7] |
Rough Order of Magnitude studies
conducted by Novacium’s technical team provide initial estimates,
which will be updated during a future Pilot Plant phase. |
[8] |
Information provided based on the
latest supplier’s quote received. |
About NOVACIUM SAS
Novacium is an HPQ - affiliated company that
started in Q3 2022. This green technology startup is based in Lyon,
France and is a partnership with HPQ and three of France’s leading
research engineers, Dr. Jed KRAIEM PhD, Novacium's Chief Operating
Officer (“COO”), Dr. Oleksiy NICHIPORUK PhD, Novacium's Chief
Technical Officer (“CTO”), and Dr. Julien DEGOULANGE PhD,
Novacium’s Chief Innovation Officer (“CIO”). Novacium is a new
Research and Development company which allows researchers to
develop their own technology in high-added-value fields connected
to renewable energy and allows HPQ Silicon Inc. a Canadian company,
to expand the depth and reach of its technical team to help develop
its silicon and new renewable energy projects.
About HPQ Silicon
HPQ Silicon Inc. (TSX-V: HPQ) is a
Quebec-based TSX Venture Exchange Tier 1 Industrial Issuer.
HPQ is developing, with the support of
world-class technology partners PyroGenesis Canada Inc. and
NOVACIUM SAS, new green processes crucial to make the critical
materials needed to reach net zero emissions.
HPQ activities are centred around the following
four (4) pillars:
|
1) |
Becoming a green low-cost (Capex and Opex) manufacturer of Fumed
Silica using the FUMED SILICA REACTOR, a
proprietary technology owned by HPQ Silica Polvere Inc being
developed for HSPI by PyroGenesis. |
|
2) |
Becoming a producer of
silicon-based anode materials for battery applications with the
assistance of NOVACIUM SAS. |
|
3) |
HPQ SILICON affiliate NOVACIUM
SAS is developing a low carbon, chemical based on demand and
high-pressure autonomous hydrogen production system. |
|
4) |
Becoming a zero CO2 low-cost
(Capex and Opex) producer of High Purity Silicon (2N+ to 4N) using
our PUREVAPTM “Quartz
Reduction Reactors” (QRR), a proprietary technology owned
by HPQ being developed for HPQ by PyroGenesis. |
For more information, please visit HPQ Silicon
web site.
Disclaimers:
This press release contains certain
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation,
statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate",
"continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and
other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws.
Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current
expectation and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our
expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the
market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the
capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to
research and development, the impact of competitive products and
pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the
regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current
views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject
to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from
time-to-time in the Company's ongoing filings with the security’s
regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at
www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ
materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements either as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This News Release is available on the
company's CEO Verified Discussion Forum, a moderated social
media platform that enables civilized discussion and Q&A
between Management and Shareholders.
Source: HPQ Silicon Inc.For further
information contact: Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman,
President, and CEO Tel +1 (514) 846-3271Patrick Levasseur, Director
Tel: +1 (514) 262-9239Email: Info@hpqsilicon.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ce2f2e81-8423-4175-b696-a5530f640b69
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