An Australian producer is preparing to ship high-tech lithium-iron internationally.

Queensland Resources Council chief Ian Macfarlane has officially opened Lithium Australia’s VSPC plant in Queensland, which produces advanced lithium-iron phosphate cathode powders for use in lithium batteries.

The plant has completed a number of pilot runs and in-house testing to assess the capacity and performance of the materials.

In coming weeks, samples will be produced for transport to lithium-ion battery makers in China.

“We are convinced that VSPC’s elegant solution to increasing lithium-ion battery efficiency is the best available for the production of lithium-iron phosphate cathode powders,” said Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin.

“The technology also has applications in catalyst and medical fields.

“Independent tests have already shown that VSPC cathode powders out-perform industry benchmarks – a compelling reason for cell makers to use VSPC material.

“The material we are primarily producing is a lithium-iron phosphate and that is a precursor to the production of cathodes. It is produced in the form of a powder and one of the critical aspects with respect to the production of that material is the size.”

He said the VSPC can make lithium-iron phosphate material at a “much finer size than anyone else can”, giving the battery “far superior performance”.