1. Market Anaylsis
Today, the two biggest markets forlithium compounds are in the manufacture
of lithium ion batteries forelectric vehicles and in energy storage for smart grids. Market reports predictthat world lithium demand will increase by a factor of 2.5 between 2010 and 2020.
For example,a recent report bysignumBOX (Santiago, Chile www.signumbox. com)predicts that global lithium demand will grow at a base rate of 6% in 2014 from2013 rates.
That increase will be primarily dueto an increase in demand from the battery industry, which is projected to growat a base rate of 11.2% in 2014 from 2013, and increase in subsequent Years.
2. Material
Handheld electronics mostly uselithium-ion batteries with lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) cathodes, whichoffer high energy density, but have a relatively short life span and entailsafety risks.
Lithium iron phosphate(LFP; LiFePO4), lithium manganese oxide (LMO;LiMn2O4) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC; LiNiMnCoO2)offerlower energy density, but longer lives and greater safety.
The trend in lithium-ion batteriesis now to use a lightweight lithium/ carbon negative electrodes and LFP positiveelectrodes. However, NMC seems to be a leading contender for automotiveapplications. Lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide NCA; LiNiCoAlO2) and lithium titanate (LTO;Li4Ti5O12) are aimed at niche applications.
3. Process
One example is Galaxy ResourcesLtd. (Perth, Western Australia; www.galaxyresources.com.au),
Another Australian company that has developed and patented a process to produce battery-grade lithium
carbonate and lithium hydroxide is Reed Resources Ltd. (Perth; www.reedresources.com).
