Global renewable energy storage innovator Gelion has acquired a world-leading IP portfolio of over 450 Lithium Sulfur and Silicon Anode (“LiSiS”) patents which, in combination with Gelion’s existing IP, may create the ability to develop and manufacture the world’s most advanced battery technology here in Australia.
Lithium sulfur is widely acknowledged as the next dominant battery technology, meaning the acquisition accelerates Gelion’s efforts to produce a battery with significantly higher gravimetric density (energy-to-weight ratio), greater safety, and lower costs.
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The LiSiS patents, spanning 82 patent families, include solid and liquid electrolytes, disordered rock salt, electrode formulation, and battery materials recycling.
Gelion is acquiring the IP from multinational speciality chemicals and sustainable technologies company Johnson Matthey.
The acquisition will help secure the solutions required to pursue and expedite the development of Gelion’s lithium sulfur and lithium silicon sulfur technologies, which have the potential to create multiple next-generation applications for its high energy-to-weight ratio batteries.
Gelion CEO John Wood said, “The importance of this acquisition cannot be understated, not just to Gelion but also to Australian research and manufacturing as a whole. Lithium Sulfur is widely tipped as the next big stage of the Lithium energy storage industry, and with this IP portfolio, Gelion intends to build the world’s best battery.
“This positions Australian research and development at the front edge of the global battery wave. We now own the technology to become a renewable energy super power.
“Combining this IP portfolio with Gelion’s ongoing Lithium Sulphur and Lithium Silicon Sulfur technologies can significantly advance the battery industry’s efforts to achieve higher gravimetric energy density while reducing cost and increasing safety. This IP portfolio will help in our objectives toward achieving a protective moat for Gelion’s technology.”
Gelion has developed patented technology for a breakthrough zinc-bromide battery to support the transition to a carbon neutral economy by 2050. The technology is a low-cost, robust, safe and recyclable alternative to lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries making them ideally suited for the expanding energy storage market.
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Gelion’s zinc-bromide gel battery uses non-flow technology, which is scalable, can deliver 100% depth of discharge and has a higher temperature tolerance and longer duration discharge than competing lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. With applications at grid scale as well as in agriculture, mining, water management and irrigation the battery is also highly adaptable for off-grid use.
Gelion is also developing performance additives to improve the safety, longevity and energy density of lithium-based batteries for mobile applications. Using nanotechnology, Gelion’s lithium-silicon and lithium-sulfur additives will help power the EV and e-aviation markets.
