Fusion startups face significant challenges, primarily their goal of developing a power plant that generates more energy than it consumes using fusion energy, a feat yet to be achieved. These startups must demonstrate the viability of their technology, prove that it can be scaled, and persuade investors of its profitability — already a formidable task. An equally critical but less discussed issue is sourcing the necessary fuel.
Most fusion startups assert that they will produce their own fuel. However, this overlooks a crucial detail: to create tritium, a vital component for fusion, startups need a particular isotope of lithium, which is currently in limited supply.
This realization dawned on Charlie Jerrott while working at the fusion startup, Focused Energy. He noted the absence of companies dedicated to developing the fuel supply chain for fusion companies. In response, Jerrott and his colleague, Jacob Peterson, established Hexium aiming to address the future fuel supply issues for fusion energy.
Operating privately until now, Hexium has announced it secured $8 million in seed funding, with contributions from MaC Venture Capital, Refactor, Humba Ventures, Julian Capital, Overture VC, and R7 Partners. Hexium employs a technique called atomic vapor laser isotope separation (AVLIS), devised by the Department of Energy in the 1980s for uranium isotope separation. This method has been adapted by Hexium to target lithium isotopes.
Hexium will use precisely tuned lasers to separate lithium isotopes. These lasers, described as having energy levels similar to those used in tattoo removal, can specifically interact with one type of lithium isotope. Lithium occurs in two stable isotopes: lithium-6 and lithium-7, and each has a distinct wave signature. Hexium’s lasers are tuned to target lithium-6 exclusively.
The process involves shining lasers into clouds of vaporized lithium. When a laser encounters a lithium-6 atom, it ionizes, allowing the atom to be drawn to an electrically charged plate, where it condenses into a liquid form. This liquid then collects, similar to condensed water on a cold glass. Hexium packages and sells lithium-6 to fusion companies for use in generating tritium fuel and shielding reactors from radiation. The surplus lithium-7 is sold to conventional nuclear reactor operators, who use it to protect cooling water.
Hexium plans to use its seed funding to build and operate a pilot plant over the next year. If successful, they intend to replicate the design in a modular fashion, aiming to produce anywhere from tens to hundreds of kilograms of lithium-6. Peterson emphasized that their process allows for achieving economic efficiency at a small scale, which can then be expanded incrementally without needing a large-scale facility.
