Maintaining and expanding lithium cell and battery manufacturing capability here in America—as well as in allied and partner countries—is critical to national security and is essential to developing resilient defense supply chains not under threat from near-peer adversaries. Based on engineering research conducted at UC Berkeley, Aepnus’ electrochemical technology platform reduces the cost to refine industrially relevant salts such as lithium, manganese, and potash by 70%, with far less environmental impact. By electrifying mineral refinement trains, we enable domestic production of these materials and position the US as a leader in the global production of battery minerals. Combining modular flow reactors and state-of-the-art electrode formulations (hardware) with thermodynamic optimization models (software), Aepnus will decarbonize the lithium-ion battery value chain and enable low-cost US domiciled refinement of critical battery minerals.
