Despite lots of niobium hype, no one’s sure what one does with it. This NASDAQ-ASX stock is betting on … battery tech

NASDAQ and ASX dual lister NOVONIX (ASX:NVX) has announced its execution of a deal with Brazilian global niobium company CBMM to investigate using niobium to boost battery cathode performance.

A cynical finance writer might suggest one could now expect microcaps to start reframing niobium as a battery metal in the weeks and months ahead.

NOVONIX is an internationally recognised materials and technology company, and CBMM has the niobium. Up until WA1 Resources’ relatively recent onshore niobium fine, Brazil dominated the niobium market in terms of supply.

However, as of early August of 2024, Australia isn’t yet producing niobium on meaningful scales and Brazil still has all of the stuff. Thus the deal with a player from South America’s largest economy.

NOVONIX said on Thursday it will use CBMM’s niobium products in nickel-based cathodes to see if the company can’t use niobium to boost overall battery performance.

Batteries may continue to dominate resources investors’ minds for a while yet.

Getting into the finer details, NOVONIX will use a “zero-waste” process as part of the relatively formal joint development agreement. The company will also be keen to further boost calculus from a third party indicating its dry “zero-waste” process is cheaper than more standardised methods.

But the real story here, as far as I see it, is that NOVONIX has probably just shaped the contours of the niobium landscape when it comes to daily ASX newsflow announcements.

NVX opened at 61.5cps.