North Andover, MA. 6K Energy, a division of 6K Inc., December 15 announced that it has been awarded a $1.9 million Battery Network (BATTNET) Programme III research and development grant from the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the nation’s logistics combat support agency. The award will accelerate domestic, sustainable production of critical lithium-ion battery materials through the development and scale-up of advanced single-crystal (SC) NMC721 cathode powders using 6K’s UniMelt® microwave plasma process.
Under the 12-month programme, 6K Energy will focus on scaled synthesis, post-processing optimisation, and performance validation of SC NMC721, including coin-cell and full-cell testing in partnership with a US-based lithium-ion cell manufacturer. SC NMC721 is particularly well suited for the “All-US” cell voltage window of 2.5–4.35 V and meets demanding defence-relevant performance targets.
“We are excited about this programme on many fronts,” said Dr Saurabh Ullal, CEO of 6K Inc. and President of 6K Energy. “This award recognises the capabilities of our UniMelt platform and validates our ability to produce NMC721 domestically and sustainably. We appreciate the confidence that the DLA and the BATTNET programme have placed in 6K Energy, and we believe this effort will accelerate the delivery of high-performance NMC721 materials critical to our nation’s defence and energy security.”
BATTNET is a designated Defence Operational Energy Programme managed under the Defence Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Programme. Its goal is to enhance battery logistics and performance by advancing manufacturing technologies through industry partnerships. Programme priorities include strengthening the domestic supply chain, improving safety and shelf life, reducing premature disposal, and increasing overall battery availability for defence applications.
“Our single-crystal NMC811 and other high-nickel NMC materials have been sampled widely by OEMs and cell manufacturers with outstanding results,” said Dr Richard Holman, CTO of 6K Energy. “This BATTNET award gives us the opportunity to push the boundaries for NMC721 and again demonstrate that our UniMelt technology can deliver highly sought-after, high-quality battery materials at scale right here in the United States.”
SC NMC721 offers compelling advantages over polycrystalline alternatives, including the elimination of intergranular cracking and reduced electrolyte reactivity, thanks to its lack of grain boundaries and inherently lower surface area. Conventional co-precipitation routes for SC NMC721 typically require long calcination times, flux additives, aggressive post-processing, and generate significant waste—challenges the UniMelt process is uniquely positioned to address.
6K’s award-winning UniMelt production system is the world’s only microwave, production-scale plasma platform capable of manufacturing advanced battery materials in a fast, efficient, and environmentally responsible manner. According to a Life Cycle Assessment conducted with Minviro, Ltd., 6K Energy’s approach can reduce energy consumption by up to 50% compared with traditional NMC production routes. Combined with up to 50% reductions in processing cost, the UniMelt platform delivers the industry’s first pathway to low-cost, ultra-sustainable cathode active material (CAM) production at scale.
