India, through its state-owned company Khanij Bidesh India Ltd, has recently signed a deal with an Argentine firm for the joint prospecting of lithium in Argentina, a nation known to have one of the largest lithium reserves globally. This move marks a significant step for India in securing essential raw materials necessary for manufacturing lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.
Background: Khanij Bidesh India Ltd and Lithium Prospecting
Khanij Bidesh India Ltd, incorporated in August 2019 by three state-owned firms (NALCO, Hindustan Copper and Mineral Exploration Ltd), was established with the mandate to acquire strategic mineral assets like lithium and cobalt abroad. The company is also currently considering prospects in Chile and Bolivia, two other significant lithium-producing nations.
The strategic focus on lithium is due to its critical role in manufacturing lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, used extensively to power electric vehicles, laptops, and mobile phones. The sourcing agreement will help India reduce its dependency on China, which is a significant source of both lithium and the cells.
The Importance of Lithium and India’s Role
India’s entry into the lithium value chain comes at a time when electric vehicles are poised for disruption. The year 2021 is expected to be pivotal for battery technology, with potential improvements to lithium-ion technology and commercialization of alternatives.
About Lithium-ion Batteries
A lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is a type of rechargeable battery that uses an intercalated lithium compound as one electrode material. This composition differs from the metallic lithium used in non-rechargeable lithium batteries. Li-ion batteries consist of an electrolyte that facilitates ionic movement, and two electrodes. Applications include electronic gadgets, telecommunication, aerospace, and various industrial uses. However, these batteries are expensive to manufacture and have long charging times, posing safety issues.
Potential Alternatives to Lithium-ion Technology
Several alternatives to lithium-ion technology are in development. These include graphene batteries, fluoride batteries, and batteries powered by ammonia or silicon.
Graphene batteries could be an important alternative, due to the limitations in lithium-ion batteries’ charging times. Fluoride batteries, on the other hand, have the potential to last eight times longer than their lithium counterparts.
Silicon-based batteries offer three times better performance than current graphite Li-ion batteries. Ammonia, commonly known as a household cleaner, is being studied for its potential to power fuel cells in vehicles and other equipment. If an environmentally-friendly production method can be found, it could become a significant player in the battery sector.
Lithium-Sulfur Batteries and Other Developments
In Australia, researchers claim to have developed the world’s most efficient rechargeable battery using lithium-sulfur. This new type of battery reportedly delivers four times higher performance than any existing batteries.
Vertical alignment of carbon nanotubes is also being investigated as potential lithium-ion battery electrodes due to their high rate capability and capacity.
Solid-state batteries use alternatives to aqueous electrolyte solutions, which can significantly reduce risks of fires and increase energy density. It’s purported that such batteries might only require ten minutes to charge an electric vehicle, thus cutting recharging time by two-thirds.