Boston-based startup Pure Lithium has announced the creation of a new type of lithium battery that can withstand over 1,300 charge cycles and completely eliminates critical materials of Chinese origin, Interesting Engineering reports.
The company, led by Emily Boden, is developing a battery with a pure lithium anode, obtained directly from brine using the "Brine to Battery" process. The cathode uses vanadium, which can operate at temperatures up to 700°C, reducing the risk of ignition.
Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, the new development does not contain graphite, cobalt, nickel or manganese — materials that are mostly mined or processed in China. According to the US Geological Survey, half of the critical raw materials for the US will come from China in 2024 alone.
Pure Lithium claims that the new battery is not only safer, but also more efficient: lithium metal has about ten times the capacity of graphite anodes. In addition, the company has already demonstrated stable battery operation at industrial charging and discharging rates.
Pure Lithium is currently expanding its own production and launching a pilot line in the U.S. The company also plans to raise up to $300 million in financing from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which could accelerate the scaling of the technology.
If successful, Pure Lithium will be one of the first companies to offer fully localized lithium battery production — without involving Chinese suppliers.