Battery materials company 6K has received conditional approval for a $250 million loan from the U.S. Department of Defense to build a manufacturing facility in Tennessee.
The plant is expected to produce cathode active materials, a key component in batteries, using a microwave-powered process. The approach heats metals into plasma before depositing them onto a surface, potentially reducing the number of production steps.
6K says its process can be adapted for different battery chemistries, including lithium iron phosphate (LFP). The planned facility is intended to expand domestic production of battery materials.
If implemented at scale, the technology could help broaden U.S. battery-material manufacturing options and support a more diverse supply chain.
