Production of Battery Grade Graphite Flakes
ID: DLA233-003Type: BOTH
Overview

Topic

Production of Battery Grade Graphite Flakes

Agency

Department of DefenseN/A

Program

Type: SBIRPhase: BOTHYear: 2023

Topic Link

https://www.sbir.gov/node/2448081

Additional Information

https://www.defensesbirsttr.mil/
Timeline
  1. 1
    Release Aug 23, 2023 12:00 AM
  2. 2
    Open Sep 20, 2023 12:00 AM
  3. 3
    Next Submission Due Oct 18, 2023 12:00 AM
  4. 4
    Close Oct 18, 2023 12:00 AM
Description

The Department of Defense (DoD) is seeking proposals for the production of battery-grade graphite flakes. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is looking for domestic production of graphite to reduce reliance on costly foreign sources. The goal is to develop a domestic source that can produce industrial quantities of material with a fully domestic or friendly supply chain. New and novel ideas that allow for competitive pricing with imported graphite and/or novel feedstocks are preferred. The production process should be modular and scalable. The project duration and cost for Phase I should not exceed 6 months and $100,000, while Phase II should not exceed 18 months and $1,000,000. The proposed efforts should be at a Technology and/or Manufacturing Readiness Level (TRL/MRL) 6 or less, but greater than TRL/MRL 3. The ideal production process should have a purity of >99.95% and properties suitable for advanced battery manufacturing. Both natural and synthetic processing methods are of interest. Phase I will involve a full process flow and a lab-scale process to confirm estimates and provide preliminary cost and pricing data. Phase II will focus on making a pilot/low-rate production plant, characterizing the material produced, identifying and testing multiple sources of raw materials, and generating a business case. Collaboration with relevant DoD organizations and supply chain participants is highly desirable. The innovation should have commercial benefit and application opportunities. Phase III does not have specific funding associated with it but should result in the ability to produce to DoD orders and organic business growth.

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