US backs graphene monoxide anode tech to curb graphite mining for lithium-ion batteries

A Wisconsin battery materials company has secured a $1.25 million US Department of Energy contract to scale production of an anode material designed to reduce reliance on mined graphite and improve how lithium-ion battery systems track their charge. COnovate will use the 24-month development contract to advance commercial-scale production of its eCOphite anode material. The award comes through the DOE’s Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator Program. Unlike conventional graphite anodes, eCOphite is positioned as a graphite alternative that can be used as an additive with existing anode materials. The company says the material can be produced domestically from renewable feedstocks and does not require mining. The technology is aimed at a specific problem in lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. These batteries have a relatively flat voltage curve across much of their usable range, making it harder for battery management systems to determine how much charge remains. New graphite alternative COnovate says eCOphite can introduce a durable voltage reference point into the battery. That additional signal could allow existing battery management systems to estimate state of charge more accurately as a battery operates. More accurate state-of-charge information can help battery operators monitor systems and manage battery packs over longer operating periods. The company says this could improve system visibility while reducing downtime, warranty exposure, and costs associated with maintenance and battery augmentation. The $1.25 million award is focused on scaling and qualification rather than simply developing the material in the laboratory. COnovate says the work will help qualify eCOphite at commercial scale and demonstrate its compatibility with existing battery manufacturing infrastructure. “This award is an important step toward qualifying eCOphite material at commercial scale and strengthening a domestic supply battery materials supply chain,” said Craig Rigby, President and CEO of COnovate. The company says its approach is intended to make adoption easier because manufacturers would not necessarily need to redesign their existing production infrastructure to use the material. Battery controls get sharper The technology is based on graphene monoxide, which COnovate describes as the basis of its eCOphite anode material. The company says it holds patents covering the development and commercialization of products for the lithium-ion battery industry. The domestic production angle is also central to the DOE-backed project. Graphite is a key battery material, and securing alternative sources and production methods is part of efforts to strengthen US battery supply chains. Under the contract, COnovate will continue scaling US production while working toward commercial qualification of the material. The project is supported by the DOE’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation under Award Number DE-EE0011730. For LFP batteries, the company is targeting an issue that is less visible than energy density or charging speed but important for operating battery systems: accurately knowing the remaining charge. By adding a measurable voltage reference, eCOphite is designed to give battery management systems another signal to work with. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.