Lithium
Germany’s Fraunhofer and University of Stuttgart develop aluminium anode technology for lithium-ion batteries
Germany-based Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (Fraunhofer IPA), headquartered in Stuttgart, has developed a new aluminium anode technology for lithium-ion batteries in collaboration with the University of Stuttgart, addressing a key challenge that has limited the material’s practical use. The patented cell and electrode design manages the volume changes that occur during charging and discharging, helping prevent electrode damage and maintain electrical contact over repeated cycles. The technology also eliminates graphite and silicon from the anode, replaces conventional copper foil with aluminium foil and removes a separate electrode coating process. Aluminium anode technology targets electrode degradation Aluminium has long attracted interest as an...
Rio Tinto's evolving commodity mix reshapes its investment story
Iron ore remains Rio Tinto's financial anchor, but growing exposure to aluminium, copper and lithium is changing how investors assess the diversified miner. Rio Tinto is attracting renewed attention among UK-listed metals and mining stocks as its expanding commodity mix creates a valuation picture that looks different depending on the financial measure used. The London-listed mining group remains heavily anchored by its established iron ore operations, while aluminium and copper provide additional exposure to major industrial markets. At the same time, lithium and other critical minerals are becoming increasingly important to its longer-term strategy. That combination makes Rio Tinto's valuation less straightforward than a simple comparison of its earnings multiple with those of other...
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A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
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A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
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Romania boosts defence industry with €2.5b from EU SAFE payment
Romania has received its first EUR 2.5 billion (USD 2.91 billion) payment under the European Union’s (EU) Security Action for Europe (SAFE) facility, marking the first tranche of its EUR 16.7 billion (USD 19.46 billion) allocation. The EU SAFE defence funding is aimed at strengthening Romania’s defence capabilities and industrial base, with further payments linked to the completion of agreed milestones and implementation targets. The initial tranche represents 15 per cent of Romania’s total SAFE allocation, according to the European Commission. The funding is being channelled towards defence investments and forms part of the broader EUR 150 billion (USD 174.76 billion) SAFE instrument designed to support rapid investment in Europe’s defence industry and technology. “This funding will...
EQONIC places aluminium at the heart of next-generation battery innovation.
UK battery technology company EQONIC Group has confirmed aluminium as the core material behind its proprietary battery technology, marking a significant step as the company moves towards industrial-scale validation of a lithium-free, sodium-free and rare earth-free energy storage system. EQONIC said its aluminium-based battery technology is now progressing from laboratory development to industrial validation, where it will undergo large-scale testing to assess manufacturability, performance and reliability ahead of commercial deployment. According to the company, the proprietary battery architecture targets manufacturing costs of around 30 per cent of conventional lithium metal batteries, with a long-term production cost target of GBP 50 (USD 67.40) per kWh. Aluminium positioned as an...
Alluminous advances to battery validation following successful completion of first C4V development milestone
Impact Minerals Limited (ASX: IPT) is pleased to advise that its 50 per cent-owned associated company, Alluminous Pty Ltd, has successfully achieved the first major technical milestone in its joint development program with New York-based battery technology company Charge CCCV LLC (C4V) (ASX Releases December 19th 2025 and February 20th 2026). The milestone marks the successful completion of the particle engineering phase of the program, during which Alluminous' High Purity Alumina was processed with C4V's proprietary dry particle engineering technology to produce material suitable for advanced lithium-ion battery separator coatings (Figure 1). Importantly, this independent test work confirmed that the engineered material retained its purity throughout the particle engineering process and...
India widens policy support for ACC, battery recycling to secure critical minerals
India is preparing to widen policy support for advanced chemistry cells (ACC) and battery recycling as it seeks to strengthen domestic battery manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported critical minerals. The proposed measures indicate that the government's focus is extending beyond cell production to include recycling, battery components and niche battery technologies, reinforcing both electric mobility and renewable energy storage. Speaking at the 12th India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2026 in New Delhi, Vijay Mittal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), announced the ministry’s plan to expand the existing ACC incentive framework following industry requests for dedicated policies covering “niche battery technologies.” Discover: The Gulf aluminium market risks, China...
Is China’s critical mineral refining network the hidden backbone of AI, EV, defence?
China is marking its footprint as the world's leading processor of critical minerals, extending its influence well beyond mining into the refining stage, which highlights modern technologies. The country currently dominates refined production for 19 of the world's 20 key critical minerals, including gallium, graphite, rare earths and lithium that are driving growth across the sectors of electric vehicle (EV), artificial intelligence (AI) and defence, amongst others. China’s refining dominance is especially manifested in battery and electrification supply chains. It accounts for nearly 96 per cent of global refined graphite production and 95 per cent of manganese refining capacity, both essential for EV batteries and energy storage systems. Discover: The Gulf aluminium market risks, China...
UK consortium develops modular recycling system to recover EV battery metals domestically
A group of UK companies is developing a new battery recycling system designed to recover critical materials from used electric vehicle batteries without relying heavily on overseas processing. The initiative, called ReCAM, brings together the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre, Watercycle Technologies, Recyclus Group Ltd, and Polaron. The project focuses on processing “black mass,” the metal-rich powder that remains after lithium-ion batteries are shredded. At present, much of the UK’s black mass is exported because domestic refining infrastructure remains limited. The consortium aims to process the material locally and convert it into reusable battery-grade materials. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026"...
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