Gelion announced an update on its Next Generation Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) battery development. Gelion announced that the recent test results display early validation of the primary elements of Gelion's technology plan, building on acquisition of a leading Li-S IP portfolio from Johnson Matthey, acquisition of OXLiD, and the JDA with IonBlox in 2023. Performance of OXIS GEN2 technology acquired from Johnson Matthey has been replicated and validated: Gelion has benchmarked OXIS GEN2 cell technology (acquired from Johnson Matthey in March 2023) and produced 1.0Ah pouch cells that achieved 245 Wh/kg in testing.

Independent modelling from the 1.0Ah cells predicts that 5Ah cells currently being prepared for fabrication can be expected to achieve approximately 400 Wh/kg, in-line with OXIS Energy's results. High Wh/kg translates to lighter batteries and opens many advantages for transport applications including e-aviation and Electric Vehicles (EVs). Gelion's Next Generation (be beyond GEN2) technology (combined OXIS/OXLiD/Gelion Technologies) pouch cell testing successfully implemented, displaying superior solid-to-solid Sulfur behavior: Gelion has produced 0.5Ah pouch cells (lithium-metal anode) with its cathode and electrolyte.

These cells confirm that the solid-to-solid behaviour developed in coin cells successfully transfers to larger cell formats. Gelion's testing of IonBlox SiOx anode with Gelion Next Generation Cathode and Electrolyte is demonstrating expected capacity and indicate stable cycling. The specific capacities being achieved are substantially higher than achievable with common NMC (nickel, manganese, cobalt) cathodes.

Gelion anticipates that its metal-free cathode, based on abundant sulfur, will result in a cheaper, more stable and safer battery. Gelion's ambition for its Next Generation platform is to unlock the potential of sulfur batteries for a wide range of global applications including electrical vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL), drone markets, EV, and stationary energy storage (ESS). Sulfur being an abundant material offers a future not limited by geographically concentrated and controblled battery metals.

In May 2023, Gelion updated on the progress made using the battery technology package acquired from Johnson Matthey (containing, in addition to its own IP, the Li-S IP and know-how from OXIS Energy). Gelion has worked over the past nine months to benchmark, improve on, and define a next-generation approach to Li-S battery development. Li-S batteries are an advanced alternative to Li-ion batteries that can achieve much greater gravimetric energy densities (measured as amount of energy per battery weight).

This is critical to drive down the weight in mobile applications such as airplanes, drones and electric vehicles, reducing auxiliary component cost and lessening their upfront environmental impact. They do not contain rare metals in the cathode and can be scaled to meet the demands of global electrification. The technology shows promise to be safer (lower risk of fires) than current batteries.