REG - Gelion PLC - Gelion’s GEN 3 Sulfur Cathode viability update

GelionAnnouncement

12/02/2025 07:30

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RNS Number : 8284W  Gelion PLC  12 February 2025

12 February 2025

Gelion plc

("Gelion", "Company" or the "Group")

 

Gelion's GEN 3 Sulfur Cathodes Viable for Full Solid-State Batteries

 

Gelion (AIM: GELN), the Anglo-Australian battery innovator, updates on
relevant progress made in its Gen 3 Sulfur Cathode Technology, which has been
in development to unlock the potential of sulfur batteries for a range of
global energy storage applications.

Following testing by an independent third party, a renowned European research
institution, the Group has now demonstrated that its proprietary Gen 3 Sulfur
Cathode material is viable to be paired with solid-state electrolyte material
toward full solid-state applications. This development means Gelion has a
technology with the potential to complement and establish a significant market
presence alongside traditional Li-ion cathode chemistries (e.g. NMC or LFP).

Pairing the cathode material with solid-state components is expected to be a
critical factor in:

 ·             Preventing polysulfide shuttle - a route to improving battery longevity
 ·             Eliminating liquid electrolyte - no leakage, lower flammability risks, and a
               route to better safety
 ·             Offering a route to higher energy density - enabling lighter batteries
 ·             Presenting an opportunity to apply low-cost and sustainable sulfur cathodes to
               solid-state approaches

 

The Gelion Sulfur Cathode material is identical to that used with its
high-performance Gen 3 liquid electrolyte lithium-sulfur batteries, which have
already achieved high energy density of 402 Wh/kg. This development allows
Gelion to potentially offer a solution across the liquid, semi-solid-state and
solid-state technologies, targeting an even wider range of applications.
Gelion's Sulfur Cathode technology is compatible with multiple anode
chemistries and has made significant progress over the last 12 months to
extend its applicability and potentially remove barriers for
commercialisation.

Gelion is at the forefront of developing low-cost sulfur cathodes that can be
broadly applied across various Li battery chemistries and applications,
including electric vehicles, stationary storage, and drones, where
reliability, weight reduction and cost savings are required. Sulfur offers
significant advantages, including high energy density, cost-effectiveness,
abundance and sustainability.

Solid-state batteries have the potential to revolutionise energy storage by
enhancing safety, increasing energy capacity, and reducing reliance on
critical raw materials. Despite their benefits, solid-state batteries require
high capital investment for development of manufacturing capability,
scalability, and to overcome material constraints.

Gelion has adopted a Materials Business model and plans to focus on the
manufacturing scale-up of its Gen 3 cathode material. It intends to do so by
partnering with companies with existing expertise in the design and production
of full-solid-state cells to distribute its Gen 3 cathode technology for long
term applications requiring high energy and low-cost batteries. This will be
undertaken whilst continuing to optimise the GEN 3 cathode technology in
liquid electrolyte-based silicon and semi-solid-state battery technologies
with greater potential to electrify shorter term markets in Aerospace, Defence
and niche Automotive applications.

This development directly ties into the Group's mission to provide global
energy storage solutions that are robust, safe and affordable with low
environmental impact, enabling the supply of clean power for all.

John Wood, Gelion CEO commented: "I am very pleased with the balanced yet
ambitious approach our team is taking in advancing our Sulfur Cathode
Technology.  Sulfur has the potential to be a game changer for battery
technology and the energy transition.

"A successful energy transition requires two elements: the first is technology
that provides a full solution to market needs and the second commercial
development of key supply chain relationships.

"This progress allows Gelion to confidently demonstrate to our partners that
our leading sulfur battery technology will be able to support their own
objectives across the full scope as the industry progresses toward liquid,
semi-solid-state, and full-solid-state outcomes".

Cathode Viability for Full Solid-State Batteries

 

Gelion's high energy density GEN 3 Sulfur Cathode material has been
successfully tested by an independent third party in a full solid-state
configuration, a key step toward unlocking the full potential of
lithium-sulfur chemistry potentially opening pathways for a wider range of
application.

Figure 1: Battery technologies in which Gelion Gen 3 sulfur cathode technology
has the potential to be employed

 

CONTACTS

 Gelion plc                                                              via Alma

 John Wood, CEO

 Amit Gupta, CFO

 Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker)  +44 20 7220 0500

 Corporate Finance

 Neil McDonald / Seamus Fricker / Adam Rae

 Sales

 Louise Talbot

 Oberon Capital (Joint Broker)                                           +44 20 3179 5300
 Nick Lovering, Mike Seabrook, Adam Pollock

 Alma Strategic Communications (Financial PR Adviser)                    +44 20 3405 0205

 Justine James / Hannah Campbell / Will Ellis Hancock                    gelion@almastrategic.com (mailto:gelion@almastrategic.com)

 

About Gelion

Gelion ("gel: ion") is a global energy storage innovator, supporting the
transition to a more sustainable economy by commercialising two globally
important next generation technologies: Lithium-Sulfur (LiS) and Zinc-based
(Zn) hybrid cells to electrify mobile and stationary applications. Gelion plc
(the Group) is listed on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment
Market and wholly owns Australia based Gelion Technologies Pty Ltd and UK
based OXLiD Ltd. Gelion is designing and delivering innovative battery
technologies and integrated systems solutions to enable that transition and
return value for its customers and investors.

Lithium Sulfur

Gelion's effort is directed at the potential for the Li-S chemistry to deliver
double the gravimetric energy density of standard Lithium-ion chemistries
whilst concurrently reducing cost and increasing safety, targeting the EV and
e-aviation market, helping to make global transport, energy consumption and
storage more sustainable.

Gelion is developing a GEN 3 Lithium Sulfur cell product for its high energy
density sulfur cathode at its expanded R&D facilities in Australia and UK,
enabling it to integrate with a variety of anodes ranging from graphite to
silicon to lithium metal, depending on the targeted application.

Gelion's GEN 3 cell is unlocking the potential of sulfur batteries for a wide
range of global mobile applications including electrical
vertical-take-off-and-landing (eVTOL), drone markets, electric vehicles (EVs)
and stationary energy storage (ESS).

Advantages of Gelion's GEN 3 Lithium Sulfur

·       High energy density - Energy density > 400 Wh/kg, when
using a 10+ Ah pouch cell.

·       Semi-solid-state / Solid-State as a route to increased
longevity/cycle life: GEN 3 employs a semi-solid-state and solid-state
mechanism which mitigates the major degradation factor associated with
conventional Li-S technology.

·       Increased sulfur utilisation: GEN 3 demonstrates the full
theoretical capacity of sulfur, i.e. a much higher sulfur utilisation than
found in conventional Li-S approaches.

·       Simplified supply chain: The innovative cathode is produced by
mixing commercially available materials with abundant sulfur using a
low-energy, room-temperature process, with potential to eliminate the need for
pre-fabrication of the sulfur composite (sulfur composite is related to
cathode active material in conventional lithium-ion batteries), streamlining
the associated supply chain and production process and enabling localised
manufacturing.

·       Environmental and economic benefits: The water-based,
standard-atmosphere cathode production process eliminates the need for toxic
solvents, leading to significant cost savings and enhanced manufacturability.

Glossary

 1MPa                                                            This level of pressure replicates real-world pressure conditions inside
                                                                 batteries and is crucial for ensuring the durability, efficiency, and
                                                                 performance of the separator in practical applications.
 Ah                                                              Ampere hours. A measure of capacity stored in the cell. The larger the number
                                                                 the higher the capacity.
 Energy density (Wh/kg)                                          The ratio of energy stored per unit weight i.e. Watt-hours per kilogram. The
                                                                 higher the number the lighter the battery.
 Pouch cell                                                      An industry standard format of a battery which comprises a flat pouch-shaped
                                                                 design with a multi-layered laminate structure.
 Solid-to-solid conversion                                       A low or polysulfide-free conversion of sulfur within the cathode.
                                                                 Polysulfides are a dissolved form of sulfur that is corrosive and reduces
                                                                 cycle life in traditional lithium-sulfur batteries. Solid-to-solid conversion
                                                                 helps mitigate the formation of these polysulfides.
 Semi-solid state as a route to increased longevity/cycle life:  Gelion's GEN 3 technology can employ a semi-solid-state mechanism, maintaining
                                                                 the sulfur-based cathode materials in the cathode, preventing their diffusion
                                                                 into the electrolyte and diminishing associated battery degradation caused by
                                                                 reactive polysulfides. This approach mitigates the major degradation factor
                                                                 associated with conventional Li-S technology.
 Solid state separator                                           A solid-state separator is a solid material that separates the anode and
                                                                 cathode in a battery, enabling ion transfer while preventing short circuits
                                                                 enhancing battery safety, supports higher energy densities, and allows stable
                                                                 use of a lithium metal anode, increasing capacity and lifespan.
 Cycle life                                                      The number of full charge and discharge cycles a battery can complete before
                                                                 its capacity falls below a specified level, typically 80% of the original
                                                                 capacity. Higher cycle life indicates longer-lasting performance.

 

Zinc

Gelion is adapting its zinc technology to comprise an alternate cathode
technology, a zinc hybrid cell to develop complementary next-generation
batteries for the lead-acid eco-system. Early testing indicates that this
solution has the potential to maintain good energy density levels with
enhanced cost and safety aspects. Once fully developed, Gelion intends for our
zinc technology to provide a durable and sustainable market extension within
the ecosystem that supports lead-acid batteries.

Recycling

Gelion is pioneering an innovative battery recycling technology designed to
enhance and supplement current recycling methods. Our technology aims to
significantly reduce the initial costs of recycling plants, minimize waste,
and lower carbon emissions, while improving the purity of metal products and
enabling efficient lithium extraction. This advancement will allow for a
broader range of scrap materials to be recycled. Currently in the feasibility
stage, Gelion is committed to advancing our technology to a pilot-scale
demonstration, paving the way for commercialisation through material
production and IP licensing.

Integration

Gelion leverages its significant integration and BMS capability to deliver
bespoke BESS for Australian customers. These BESS are currently based on
lithium-ion technology and will also include Gelion's next-generation
batteries as these become available. Gelion will deploy BESS with our
proprietary cloud-based battery monitoring system, which will provide
real-time diagnostics and alerts to maximise performance and return on
investment for our customers.

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