CatContiCryst
Accelerating battery innovation for the UK’s EV industry
The challenge
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more commonplace on our roads. As we support the UK Government’s ambition to decarbonise road transportation, we must accelerate more advanced battery technology to market, ensuring safety, reliability and affordability.
Low-cost, high-performance battery technology will play a key role as we work to mitigate climate change and meet growing consumer demand. That’s why CPI is supporting NiTech’s efforts to develop continuous manufacturing processes for key materials used in battery production.
In collaboration with NiTech and the University of Sheffield, we explored the benefits of an innovative production method that can produce NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt-based) precursor battery materials using a continuous production approach. This approach has the potential to deliver increased range and battery life with reduced charge times, in addition to reduced energy usage and a lower capital cost to produce materials.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Quote-Image.jpeg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552857&s=d5d4055068132549fa5ec031827ab1a6 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Quote-Image.jpeg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552857&s=0c499b20bd0712f09e0e691ac4031374 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Quote-Image.jpeg?w=2240&h=1260&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552857&s=8073cc38fd74156aefc47650fe76da56 2240w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Quote-Image.jpeg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552857&s=82709e0f5771719335c1d0385cb13915 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Quote-Image.jpeg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552857&s=eb0825af020975e37928af2bdeba50dc 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Quote-Image.jpeg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552857&s=7c58ca9f9f6ad697a58e2041d7d59784 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Quote-Image.jpeg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552857&s=195f426e77efdd0cb3c7de32af2b52a4 960w)
““The adoption of battery technologies across a wide range of new applications is critical to mitigate global warming. Low-cost and high-performance battery technology will support this adoption. And the application of NiTech’s continuous processing technology has the potential to make a significant contribution to this goal.””
How CPI helped
- Secured funding from UK Research and Innovation’s Faraday Battery Challenge, together with NiTech and the University of Sheffield, to accelerate the development of Britain’s battery supply chain.
- Provided access to first-class expertise and world-leading facilities to provide proof-of-concept for NiTech’s continuously oscillatory baffled reactor technology (COBC).
- Facilitated the transfer of the University of Sheffield’s novel batch process to a continuous manufacturing process.
- Successful production of Nickel/Manganese/Cobalt hydroxide (NMC) – the precursor (or p‑CAM) for synthesising cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Case-Study-Visual.jpeg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552940&s=135f59125f3d54ae1adbf161994c5542 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Case-Study-Visual.jpeg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552940&s=6c28b69613c5546521b748f5cc0308d0 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Case-Study-Visual.jpeg?w=2240&h=1260&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552940&s=9ae5697ad1a4143890c9c06902134c04 2240w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Case-Study-Visual.jpeg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552940&s=5c77b971769ed928b582fac12efffb3b 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Case-Study-Visual.jpeg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552940&s=98f52683005c0879f7bffc4fdb1c6d23 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Case-Study-Visual.jpeg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552940&s=6d19ddab124fb5f5fbd6ea3aa5ca7081 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContiCryst-Case-Study-Visual.jpeg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711552940&s=8fdbd927b6a9da2d57d8b7afa567d5a4 960w)
Achievements
- Successfully demonstrated a continuous process for manufacturing key materials for innovative EV batteries using NiTech’s COBC technology.
- Showcased the potential of continuous manufacturing to transform operations and drastically reduce carbon emissions.
Impact
As we move towards net zero, the EV industry must continue to evolve. We can help advance the next generation of electric cars through high nickel cathodes, using innovative new technology that will boost performance while further reducing environmental impact.
By accelerating the development of new manufacturing processes, NiTech is helping the industry meet consumer demands for safety, reliability, and affordability and is reducing emissions across the entire supply chain.
It’s an example of how a unique collaboration between academia, industry and innovation centres can help solve the challenges that face our society. Together, we’re driving real change to strengthen the UK’s position as a world leader in high-value battery production.
Related
Technologies
Markets
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContriCryst-bottom-Image.jpeg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711553311&s=9842bf03aebc7a2abe20cb3f18f3292a 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContriCryst-bottom-Image.jpeg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711553311&s=b5de711666c0c360a31331e01935806a 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContriCryst-bottom-Image.jpeg?w=2240&h=1260&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711553311&s=5fe8eae5e9abd2796a69dcef2ff0ab1f 2240w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContriCryst-bottom-Image.jpeg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711553311&s=2e54a6c4b776f312c366bcd71daa90f4 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContriCryst-bottom-Image.jpeg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711553311&s=d3ad5b439aaa1831539e0c8b242674db 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContriCryst-bottom-Image.jpeg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711553311&s=62c879bf945e8c77159186872276cd60 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/CatContriCryst-bottom-Image.jpeg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1711553311&s=bec25b4a852aa83f337ea2834f1e2bf7 960w)