June 12, 2026 — Momentum Materials announced the official launch of the world’s first 300-ton production line for high-quality pitch-derived nanoporous carbon, marking a significant milestone in the commercialization of advanced carbon materials for next-generation energy storage applications.
The new manufacturing facility, located in Junan County, Shandong Province, China, represents the successful transition of nanoporous carbon technology from laboratory research to industrial-scale production. The facility is expected to reach an annual production capacity of 300 tonnes and will primarily serve the rapidly growing silicon-carbon anode market for lithium-ion batteries.
From Fundamental Research to Industrial Manufacturing
The technology behind Momentum Materials’ nanoporous carbon platform traces its origins to research initiated more than two decades ago at the University of Calgary.
“Twenty years ago, our team began fundamental research on nanoporous carbon at the University of Calgary,” said Professor Viola Birss, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and Fellow of the Royal Society, who attended the commissioning ceremony. “At the time, no one imagined that this laboratory research would one day become a commercial production line. It is inspiring to see scientific innovation translated into large-scale manufacturing that can support the global transition to sustainable energy.”
Dr. Xiaoan Li, Chairman of Momentum Materials and a former member of Professor Birss’s research group, led the development and commercialization of the technology.
Enabling the Next Generation of Lithium-Ion Batteries
As conventional graphite anodes approach their performance limits, silicon-carbon anodes have emerged as one of the most promising technologies for increasing battery energy density and fast-charging capability.
Nanoporous carbon serves as a critical structural framework within silicon-carbon anodes. Its interconnected pore structure accommodates the volume expansion of silicon particles during charge and discharge cycles while maintaining electrical conductivity and mechanical stability.
The result is a battery system capable of delivering higher energy density, improved cycle life, and faster charging performance. For electric vehicles, these advances could contribute to driving ranges exceeding 1,000 kilometers while reducing battery weight and charging times.
Breakthrough in Scalable Nanoporous Carbon Manufacturing
Producing highly-ordered nanoporous carbon at industrial scale has long been a challenge for the advanced materials industry. Maintaining precise pore structures, batch-to-batch consistency, and cost-effective manufacturing simultaneously has proven difficult using conventional production methods.
Momentum Materials has addressed these challenges through its proprietary pitch-derived hard-template manufacturing technology and three-dimensional ordered porous carbon synthesis process.
The new production line is capable of manufacturing mesoporous carbon materials with customizable pore sizes ranging from 2 to 10 nanometers. The resulting products offer:
- Highly controlled pore structures
- Excellent electrical conductivity
- Strong mechanical integrity
- Consistent quality across production batches
- Scalable, cost-effective manufacturing
The production line has successfully completed commissioning and is expected to achieve tonne-per-day production rates while reaching its full annual capacity of 300 tonnes.
Supporting the Global Energy Transition
Beyond silicon-carbon battery applications, nanoporous carbon materials have broad potential across multiple industries. Applications include catalyst supports for fuel cells and electrolyzers, supercapacitor electrodes, adsorption and filtration systems, sensors, and other advanced energy technologies.
The launch of the new facility strengthens Momentum Materials’ ability to support customers developing next-generation energy storage and clean energy solutions while contributing to a more resilient global supply chain for advanced materials.
Looking Ahead
Building on this milestone, Momentum Materials has already initiated planning for a larger-scale manufacturing facility targeting annual production capacity of 3,000 tonnes. The new facility is expected to enter operation in 2027 and will further expand the company’s ability to serve global markets.
“This production line represents more than a manufacturing achievement,” said Dr. Xiaoan Li. “It demonstrates that advanced materials innovation can successfully move from scientific discovery to industrial reality. We are excited to support our customers as they develop the next generation of batteries and clean energy technologies.”
As demand for high-performance battery materials continues to grow worldwide, Momentum Materials remains committed to advancing nanoporous carbon technology and enabling the future of sustainable energy.