Interesting to review the company announcements over the last twelve months. It was towards mid-2018, was it, that we heard about the Polaris findings, and subsequently set up our own lab for further development and testing. The significant Shareholder Presentations were in early August, when the Polaris results were discussed as part of a thorough review of the current state of play and further plans. The Polaris result was based on coating the silicon particles.
We were told to expect improvement on cycling efficiency, a point that had seemed quite disappointing at the time of the Polaris announcement. Also, considerable interest in composites was expressed. So now we have that improvement, this time with composites. I imagine there was considerable tweaking, various combinations tried and tested.
Presumably a level of automation is provided for cyclic testing. How many 2 hour tests could be performed in a day, in a week? I imagine that 170 cycles takes some weeks to complete; meanwhile, the team won't be sitting around drinking coffee or Coolaid, resting on its laurels. Further improvements are undoubtedly being tested, so we haven't seen the last of the progress yet.
There was one post noting that it is an inhouse test that was reported. Yes, but that is because inhouse is where the work is being done now. (From the announcement: "These encouraging results were unlocked by rapid advances to composite processing, electrode fabrication and battery testing made by Anteo’s development team." - that's quite a mouthful of work.) Anteo would not be releasing a flawed report - the matter is far too critical for that, as not only are shareholders watching, but the eagle eyes of the MTA collaborators and of other players. No, this announcement is very important indeed: Anteo is definitely cracking the silicon problem (those with a sense of language humour, may choose to groan at this moment).
I was intrigued by the Coulomb Efficiency figures ("CE is the ratio of the total charge extracted from the battery to the totalcharge put into the battery over a full cycle" - https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/bu_808c_coulombic_and_energy_efficiency_with_the_battery- an interesting reference if you have the time). So we are maintaining a high level of energy efficiency, at least comparable with conventional lithium-ion technology. Lead-acid has a CE of only 90%, with nickel cadmium lower again.
What next to do? "Anteo will now leverage this newly generated information on processing techniques and apply learnings to the evaluation and full characterisation of the proprietary silicon materials supplied to Anteo by its collaborators who are manufacturing state-of-the-art battery components and electrodes."
Since the end of November last (less than three months), wehave these announcements:
30 Nov – Partnership secured with Global Battery Supplier
13 Dec – distribution agreement with major China distributioncompany
17 Jan - Validationof AnteoBind with Ellume Partnerships
17 Jan – Anteo technologies signs collaboration with SonaNanotech
21 Feb – Anteo makes solid progress with GeneodxPartnership
25 Feb – Rapid advancements to Anteo’s battery composites
In my view, given the breadth and substance of these announcements, this is the best three months I have seen with Anteo over these last nine years. The company is developing a real head of steam.
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