The partnership will help serve the needs of customers interested in enhancing the performance of batteries through the use of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) coatings of active material particles. Key features of ALD-coated particles include improved cycle life, enhanced safety, and greater stability and abuse tolerance, particularly under higher temperature and voltage operation.

NEI Corporation has been a source for customized cathode and anode materials used in lithium batteries. The company specializes in developing new compositions and particle morphologies, including nanoscale particle engineering. NEI also has extensive battery research and characterization facility, which includes multi-channel cell testers.

PneumatiCoat Technologies is a pioneer in autonomous coating systems that allow for high-rate manufacturing of ALD protected particles used in batteries and related energy storage devices. The ALD platform was originally developed in Europe, and PCT is now facilitating the transition of the ALD platform from slow and expensive to economical, robust and industrially-viable.

The NEI–PCT agreement allows customers access to ALD coatings on a variety of battery material compositions, including mixed metal oxides (Lithium Manganese Nickel Oxide: LMNO, NMC, LMO, NCA); phosphates; silicates; titanates; sulfides; graphite; and silicon-based active materials.

Customers have the flexibility to not only investigate new compositions and chemistries, but also consider the use of different ALD coatings, both passive and lithium-ion conducting. The NEI–PCT relationship provides customers with access to the technology cost-effectively, the partners said.