Graphite Mid-Stream Processing Capabilities Assessment

This supplementary report is part of the series 'From minerals to materials: Assessment of Australia’s critical mineral mid-stream processing capabilities.' It outlines the growth in the graphite market driven by the global energy transition and the demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The report details the opportunities for Australia to leverage its graphite deposits and enhance its mid-stream processing capabilities. It discusses the current lack of commercial scale production in Australia, while highlighting various research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) opportunities across the graphite supply chain. These include the production of spherical graphite, purified spherical graphite, and coated purified spherical graphite (C-SPG). The report emphasizes the importance of developing HF acid-free purification methods and coating technologies, as well as the potential for collaboration with international partners. Additionally, it presents the prospects for Australian companies to innovate in silicon-graphite composite anodes, which are critical for the performance of LIBs.