Northern Graphite and Rain Carbon have announced a joint development agreement (JDA) to advance the development and commercialisation of natural graphite battery anode material (BAM), which is used in Li-ion batteries.

The collaboration aims to enhance the performance of Li-ion batteries used in EVs, focusing on extending cycle life, improving charging speed and reducing electrode swelling.

The partnership seeks to bridge the performance stability gap between natural and synthetic graphite, which could lead to increased adoption of natural graphite in EV battery cells.

Northern Graphite CEO Hugues Jacquemin said: “This exclusive JDA is a significant milestone for our companies and the industry, as it enables increased use of natural graphite in battery anode materials by lowering costs and addressing the environmental concerns linked to synthetic graphite, while enhancing key performance metrics such as cycle life, charging speed and stability.

“By leveraging Northern's expertise in mining, milling, shaping and purifying natural graphite alongside RAIN's advanced coating capabilities, we are positioned to produce the lower-cost, higher-quality BAM, which battery manufacturers and consumers are demanding.”

This initiative represents a strategic move following the creation of Northern's Battery Materials Group (NGCBM) in February and the introduction of Rain Carbon's Technology Innovation Centre for Energy Storage Materials in August.

NGCBM's efforts include the acquisition of a carbon and battery laboratory in Frankfurt, capable of producing BAM from Northern's Lac-des-Îles graphite mine in Canada.

Additionally, this facility also builds Li-ion batteries tailored to automaker specifications.

Rain Carbon's Innovation Centre in Hamilton, Canada, spans 30,000ft₂ and is equipped with pilot-scale processing plants for carbon materials and dedicated laboratories featuring advanced powder and electrochemical testing equipment.

Commenting on the JDA, Rain Carbon president Gerard Sweeney said: “We are delighted to partner with Northern in this development collaboration, which will allow us to expand and tailor our existing portfolio of LIONCOAT battery-grade carbon precursors, while also advancing new, efficient and sustainable coating technologies through our Innovation Centre in Hamilton, Canada

“This partnership enables us to combine our strengths in raw material integration and processing to produce high-performance battery anode materials, accelerating the development of innovative solutions for the rapidly growing lithium-ion battery market.”

Last November, Northern Graphite restarted ore processing at the Lac des Iles mine in Quebec due to rising graphite demand.