Hycamite: Polaris confirms quality of natural gas-based battery graphite
- Polaris Battery Labs found Hycamite’s methane-derived graphite comparable to commercial battery graphite for anode capacity.
- First delithiation capacity improved from 325 mAh/g (Aug 2025) to 361 mAh/g (Feb 2026), exceeding the 335–350 mAh/g reference range.
- Material reached 99.95% carbon and demonstrated reversible capacity over 350 mAh/g in half-cell tests.
- Hycamite aims for <2.5 kg CO2e/kg and plans to develop ~200 kilotonnes/year graphite production capacity in Europe long term.
Independent validation
Polaris Battery Labs, an independent U.S. research laboratory, provided third-party testing and development support since 2024 and confirmed that graphite refined from graphitic carbon produced via methane decomposition is comparable to commercial battery graphite grades as an anode material, particularly on capacity.
Electrochemical performance
Hycamite increased first delithiation capacity from 325 mAh/g in August 2025 to 361 mAh/g by February 2026, surpassing the typical commercial reference range of 335–350 mAh/g. Half-cell tests show reversible capacity above 350 mAh/g and the material has reached the 99.95% carbon content required for battery use. Ongoing development focuses on optimizing surface area, particle size, density and first-cycle efficiency prior to final customer validation.
Process and emissions
The company’s methane-splitting (methane pyrolysis) process breaks methane into hydrogen and solid carbon without direct greenhouse gas emissions from the reaction, with the graphitic structure forming largely during decomposition. Only a relatively short high-temperature treatment is reported necessary to remove impurities. Hycamite targets a carbon footprint under 2.5 kg CO2e per kilogram of battery graphite, notably lower than conventional synthetic graphite routes that use petroleum coke.
Commercial plan
Hycamite is advancing material assessment and collaborating with partners across the battery and materials value chain to evaluate commercial opportunities and is preparing a project that, together with partners and investors, aims for approximately 200 kilotonnes per year of graphite production in Europe over the long term.
Source: Hycamite
