UK-CSi: Feasibility study for establishing graphite-silicon refining plant in UK

与传统的锂离子电池负极材料(如石墨)相比，硅具有显著的能量密度优势。硅的理论比容量为3600mAh/g，相当于Li15Si4相的形成，比石墨的比容量大得多。然而，硅会膨胀，因此需要与石墨或某种形式的碳结合来控制这种效应。鉴于这些成熟的市场消耗了70%的硅金属，将不可避免地面临来自半导体、太阳能和铝合金行业的激烈竞争(Mordor Intelligence，2020)。此外，中国是世界上最大的硅生产商，2020年产量为5.4吨，占世界总产量8.5吨。因此，寻找电池用硅的替代来源对于确保未来的材料供应链非常重要。塔尔加已做好一切准备，将在欧盟及中国以外建立最大的负极制造工厂之一。塔尔加在瑞典的天然石墨矿产资源资产是世界上最高品位的石墨资源(JORC)。Talga利用其石墨矿石原料进行了前景看好的研究，以生产原位硅-石墨复合负极材料Talnode-CSI，与商业石墨材料相比，该材料具有更好的性能。该项目将基于建立下游石墨-硅精炼厂的可行性，寻求开发一个商业案例。这不仅将为塔尔加和英国电动汽车市场提供竞争优势，还将极大地减少它们对从其他来源采购下一代阳极材料硅的依赖。

Silicon offers a significant energy density advantage over conventional LIB anode materials such as graphite. Si has a theoretical specific capacity of 3600 mAh/g corresponding to the formation of Li15Si4 phase which is substantially larger than that of graphite 371 mAh/g. However, silicon suffers from swelling and is therefore combined with graphite or some form of carbon to control this effect.Use of Silicon in energy storage applications will inevitably face a stiff competition from semiconductor, solar and aluminium alloy industries given these established markets consume \>70% of Silicon metal (Mordor Intelligence, 2020). Further, China is world's largest producer of silicon with a production volume of 5.4 metric ton in 2020 out of a total world production volume of 8.5 metric tons. Finding an alternative source of silicon for its use in battery is therefore important to secure future material supply chains.Talga is all set to establish one of the largest anode manufacturing plants in EU and outside China. Talga's natural graphite mineral resource assets in Sweden are the highest-grade graphite resource in the world (JORC). Talga has carried out promising studies using its graphite ore feed to produce in-situ silicon-graphite composite anode material Talnode-CSi resulting in superior performance compared to commercial graphite materials.This project will look to develop a business case based on feasibility of setting up a downstream graphite-silicon refining plant. This will not only provide a competitive edge to Talga and UK EV market but also drastically reduce their dependencies on sourcing silicon for next generation anode materials from other sources.