Fusion startups face significant challenges as they strive to develop power plants that generate more energy than they consume, a feat yet to be achieved in fusion energy. A core aspect of this undertaking is the need for a reliable source of fuel, particularly tritium, which requires a scarce lithium isotope for its production.
Recognising the gap in the market, Charlie Jarrott and Jacob Peterson, previously with Focused Energy, founded Hexium to address the fuel supply issues plaguing the fusion sector. Recently, Hexium emerged from stealth mode, announcing $9.5 million in seed funding to further their mission.
Hexium’s innovative approach employs a proven technology known as Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS), which was originally developed in the 1980s to separate uranium isotopes. Although AVLIS remained underutilised after Cold War-era surplus nuclear fuel became widely available, Hexium has adapted this technology to target lithium isotopes, specifically lithium-6, necessary for breeding tritium.
Using finely tuned lasers, Hexium can precisely interact with lithium-6 atoms while ignoring lithium-7, differentiating the isotopes based on their unique wave functions. When a laser strike ionises a lithium-6 atom, it is drawn to an electrically charged plate where it condenses into liquid form. The extracted lithium-6 will subsequently be sold to fusion companies for tritium production, while the leftover lithium-7 will find a market in traditional nuclear reactors as a coolant additive.
In the coming year, Hexium plans to utilise its funding to establish a pilot plant, aiming to produce significant quantities of lithium-6. The scalability of their operation allows for smaller plants—comparable to a Starbucks café—making it economically feasible to generate tens to hundreds of kilograms of this vital resource.
This initiative by Hexium not only targets a critical bottleneck in fusion energy but also presents a potentially profitable avenue for investors seeking to support the future of sustainable energy.
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