Boston-based Pure Lithium Corporation has entered into a joint development agreement with global specialty ceramic materials leader Saint-Gobain Ceramics to fast-track the production of lithium-selective membranes. These membranes will be crucial for the extraction of lithium from brine sources and for use in next-generation lithium metal batteries. This collaboration, announced on January 15 aims to significantly advance Pure Lithium’s patent-pending technologies and strengthen its position in the rapidly evolving lithium battery sector.

Pure Lithium’s innovative lithium-selective, water-blocking membranes are designed to support the production of high-purity lithium metal anodes, an essential component for lithium metal batteries. In addition to this, the company has developed a flexible lithium-conducting membrane, which serves as both a solid electrolyte and a separator within lithium metal batteries. Saint-Gobain Ceramics will play a vital role in scaling these groundbreaking technologies, supporting both the extraction and battery production processes.

Emilie Bodoin, the CEO and founder of Pure Lithium, expressed excitement about scaling their cutting-edge technologies with Saint-Gobain Ceramics as an industrial partner. "I am delighted to be scaling our technology with an industrial partner. Saint-Gobain Ceramics has world-class R&D expertise coupled with manufacturing and production capabilities. Their technical team is unique. I am proud of the Pure Lithium team for inventing and developing these high-performance membranes. This partnership will accelerate our time to market, which is vital in the battery industry," Bodoin said.

Saint-Gobain Ceramics, renowned for its advanced materials science and innovation capabilities, will leverage its expertise to help develop and scale Pure Lithium’s lithium extraction and battery applications. Nicolas Miègeville, CEO of Saint-Gobain Ceramics, commented, "Saint-Gobain Ceramics teams are ready to co-develop with Pure Lithium innovative membranes to revolutionize the lithium extraction and battery markets. They can rely on our strong expertise in this segment and unique R&D capabilities. These solutions are key to supporting the electrical transition worldwide."

The partnership is poised to address critical needs in both the lithium extraction and battery industries. Pure Lithium’s Brine to Battery technology combines metal extraction and anode production, offering a new method of tapping into unconventional lithium sources, including brine reserves. This technology not only offers a step-change improvement in battery performance but also eliminates the need for materials such as graphite, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, which are currently prevalent in conventional lithium-ion batteries.

The high-performance membranes being developed in this partnership will play a key role in enhancing lithium extraction processes, reducing environmental impacts, and improving efficiency in the production of lithium metal. This is especially important as demand for lithium continues to rise, driven by the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market and the global shift toward cleaner, sustainable energy solutions.