Focus Graphite and C4V Report Breakthrough Early Results Showing 26% Improvement in LFP Cathode Density Using Lac Knife Cathode Ultima
Lac Knife graphite shows 26% higher cathode density in battery test, opening premium market opportunities beyond anodes, and zero-waste potential.
Ottawa, Ontario–(Newsfile Corp. – September 15, 2025) – Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB: FCSMF) (FSE: FKC0) (“Focus” or the “Company“), a leading Canadian graphite developer advancing high-grade projects in Quebec, is pleased to announce highly encouraging early results from independent battery cell testing conducted by Charge CCCV LLC (“C4V“), a New York-based leader in lithium-ion battery technology and gigafactory design.
Initial results demonstrate that spheroidization rejects from the Lac Knife deposit – typically considered waste – produced a twenty-six percent (26%) increase in cathode electrode density in single-side coated electrodes (2.39 g/cc vs. 1.76 g/cc baseline). A total of four percent (4%) conductive additive was used in the lithium iron phosphate (“LFP“) cathode, made up of two percent (2%) carbon black and two percent (2%) Lac Knife Cathode (LKC) Ultima (50:50 ratio). The tests also showed equivalent conductivity and comparable cycling stability up to forty (40) cycles. These findings suggest Lac Knife graphite by-products may represent a high-value conductive additive and significant energy-storage advantages with potential to replace or complement carbon black, the industry standard, while enabling a zero-waste processing model.
Higher cathode density allows more active material to be packed into each cell, effectively increasing energy storage without enlarging the battery size. This improvement allows battery manufacturers to achieve higher volumetric energy density, better efficiency, and lower cost per kilowatt-hour, all while maintaining the inherent safety and cycle life of LFP cells like C4V’s BMLMP (P Series cells) which currently increase voltage and energy density by fifteen percent (15%) compared to typical LFP cells. With this innovation, Focus is enabling the next generation of high-performance, cost-effective lithium-ion batteries – an advantage that is particularly meaningful for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) supporting renewable energy & EV systems. The ability to achieve greater density without sacrificing conductivity or cycling stability underscores the potential value of Lac Knife graphite as a next-generation conductive additive.
This opportunity is further reinforced by the rapid growth in the market for lithium-ion battery (LIB) cathode conductive auxiliary agents. According to a January 2025 report by Markets and Markets, the global market is expected to expand from approximately US$1.80 billion in 2024 to US$4.32 billion by 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 19.1%1. With such robust growth forecasts, early evidence that Lac Knife graphite can compete with and potentially outperform conventional carbon black highlights the strategic opportunity for Focus Graphite to participate in a high-value, high-growth specialty market.
If validated through larger-scale testing, this breakthrough could enable Focus to fully utilize its concentrate, create high-value by-products, and diversify into cathode markets all while offering ESG advantages through Quebec’s renewable hydro energy and a potential clean-energy carbon footprint. The Company plans to advance testing to single pouch cells (150mAh) & multilayer pouch cells (3Ah), explore different blend ratios (e.g. 60/40 or 70/30), and continue joint validation with C4V to assess scalability.
Baasit Ali Shaik Sulaiman, VP Supply Chain of C4V, said:
These early results validate the potential for Lac Knife graphite to expand beyond anode applications,
“Often single digit improvements in battery applications are notable. We look forward to advancing this collaboration through larger format batteries as part of our Digital DNA® program and the potential of this product for the North American supply chain.”
Dean Hanisch, CEO of Focus Graphite, said:
We continue to showcase the versatility of our Lac Knife deposit,
“A twenty-six percent improvement in cathode density is an encouraging early result in an industry where even small gains matter. Enabled by Lac Knife’s unique flake and our use of a thermal fluidized bed oven, these findings suggest that by-products may be transformed into high-value cathode materials with zero-waste potential. While further testing and validation are required, this work indicates possible applications in Battery Energy Storage Systems, one of the fastest-growing segments of the market. This aligns with our strategy to maximize the value of Lac Knife’s graphite flakes and advance opportunities to supply premium materials to downstream customers.”
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Focus Graphite and C4V Report Breakthrough Early Results Showing 26% Improvement in LFP Cathode Density Using Lac Knife Cathode Ultima, source
