Lake Resources at record high as Novonix tests show lithium carbonate performs better than commercially available battery-grade lithium carbonate

Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE) (OTCMTS:LLKKF) has hit a new record high on confirming positive results from initial testing by Novonix Ltd (ASX:NVX) (OTCQX:NVNXF), which show that its lithium carbonate performs better than commercially available battery-grade lithium carbonate in lithium-ion battery cells.  The tests revealed that Lake’s high-quality product yielded improved capacity retention and better electrochemical behaviour in coin cells compared to the commercially available product from Tier 1 producers. Shares have jumped as much as 23.5 per cent in early trading to A$0.475, a new record high, while the company's market cap sits at approximately A$390.4 million. Further testing Larger scale tests will be conducted using batch-scale synthesis to demonstrate repeatability, homogeneity and cell characterisation and validation in full lithium-ion wound pouch cells, as part of Novonix’s pilot-scale cell line facilities in Nova Scotia, Canada. This will enable Lake and its potential partner and customers to make direct comparisons of Lake’s lithium product’s performance in familiar battery chemistries.  Novonix anticipates this testing process to take some months and will update the market as soon as results are available.  "Excellent position to progress" Lake Resources managing director Steve Promnitz said: “The results from Novonix demonstrate the high quality of Lake’s high purity lithium in batteries and future results are anticipated to reinforce the initial results. “This provides electric vehicle makers and battery makers confidence around Lake’s product quality, which is particularly important, given the increasing demand for a high purity product. “Lake is advancing the Kachi DFS amid a growing focus on sustainability and the need for a responsibly sourced product suitable for the supply chains of leading EV makers. “With investor and industry engagement intensifying, Lake is in an excellent position to progress our product and unlock increased value for shareholders.” Test results Novonix received commercial samples of NMC622-hydroxide precursor from Tier 1 producers, together with samples of Lake’s high 99.97% purity lithium carbonate, to conduct a real-world direct comparison of Lake’s product into NMC622 batteries and its suitability for the nickel cathode sector. The cathode material was tested for electrochemical properties using coin half-cell testing. Powders were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) to understand morphology and phase purity. The XRD showed no impurities. Lake’s lithium carbonate was used as received and also milled but no appreciable difference was noted in the resultant NMC powders once synthesised. NMC622 was mixed with conducting carbon and binder, cast on to an aluminium foil current collector, dried, punched and assembled into a lithium-ion battery half-cell which yielded similar voltage profiles, improved capacity retention and better electrochemical behaviour compared to the commercially available product from Tier 1 producers. Novonix provides high precision battery testing equipment to Tier 1 battery makers including Panasonic, CATL, Samsung, SK Innovation, LG Chem, Bosch, Honda and Dys