Tesla looking for new lithium suppliers for Model 3, Gigafacboron is also being used in lithium-ion batteries, but nothing has been mentioned about this
April 14th, 2016-
Tesla may be taking bids from mining companies Pure Energy Minerals Limited and Bacanora Minerals Ltd. Bacanora Minerals was cited by the Wall Street Journal last summer as being on tap to produce lithium for the Tesla factory. Such potential supplier relationships indicate that Tesla is looking to hedge its bets in case lithium-ion battery maker and partner Panasonic can't make good on meeting demand. https://www.autoblog.com/2016/04/14/tesla-looking-for-new-lithium-suppliers-for-model-3-gigafactory/
April 11, 2016- Rice University materials scientists have introduced a combined electrolyte and separator for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that supplies energy at usable voltages and in high temperatures. An essential part of the nonflammable, toothpaste-like composite is hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), the atom-thin compound often called “white graphene.”
- See more at: https://news.rice.edu/2016/04/11/battery-components-can-take-the-heat-2/#sthash.zny96HkU.dpuf Add boron for better batteries https://news.rice.edu/2013/05/16/add-boron-for-better-batteries/ May 2013