US-based Cabot Corporation says it has been selected for an award negotiation of up to US$50 million by the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains. This grant, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support Cabot’s development of a new US-based manufacturing facility to produce battery-grade carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and conductive additive dispersions at commercial scale.
These materials are critical to the domestic lithium-ion battery supply chain for electric vehicles (EVs) and the electrical grid, helping to reduce reliance on imports. The DOE grant will cover nearly 30% of the total projected US$181 million investment required for the project.
Cabot plans to revitalise, retrofit, and restore a former automotive site located in Wayne County, Michigan into the first US production facility for battery-grade CNTs and conductive additive dispersions.
Cabot has partnered with the North American Building Trades Union (NABTU), the International Chemical Workers Union Council (ICWUC), and the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council (MBCTC) to support this project which is expected to create hundreds of new construction and full-time manufacturing jobs. This new manufacturing operation will enhance the domestic supply chain for critical battery materials and thereby reduce reliance on foreign imports.
With a 140-year history of manufacturing excellence in the automotive supply chain, including over 15 years of experience supplying conductive additives to the battery industry, and with established relationships with leading battery makers, Cabot says it is well-positioned to help strengthen US battery manufacturing capabilities.
In addition to its existing production of battery-grade conductive additives and carbon nanostructures in the US, this investment in CNT and dispersion production will further enable Cabot to deliver localised, tailor-made solutions that meet the specific requirements of customers’ chosen battery chemistries, including domestic EV manufacturers.
This investment highlights Cabot’s role as a critical player in the energy transition, providing innovative material solutions not only in battery technologies but also across the entire energy storage and management ecosystem. Cabot’s contributions extend beyond conductive additives, including aerogels for improved thermal management, metal oxides for cathode durability, and advanced carbons for fuel cell optimization, all vital for the next generation of sustainable energy technologies.