South Korean companies are aggressively expanding their portfolios in the electric vehicle (EV) battery sector, developing new materials and technologies beyond their primary products to meet the growing demand for advanced and efficient batteries.
According to industry sources on June 26, Lotte Energy Materials is developing solid-state battery electrolytes and LFP (lithium iron phosphate) cathode active materials in addition to their main business, copper foil.
In February, they began constructing a pilot facility at their Iksan 2 plant, which is capable of producing up to 70 tons of solid-state battery electrolytes annually. Lotte Energy Materials plans to test and stabilize the facility by the end of this year, obtain performance verification from customers, and enter into supply contracts next year, with mass production slated to begin as early as 2026.
In the same month, Lotte Energy Materials signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Isu Specialty Chemicals to receive lithium sulfide, a raw material for sulfide-based solid electrolytes. Sulfide-based solid electrolytes are considered promising materials for solid-state batteries due to their high ion conductivity and mechanical flexibility.
For the LFP cathode active materials, the company plans to convert part of its existing LMO (lithium manganese oxide) cathode active material production line, which has an annual capacity of 840 tons, into a dedicated LFP facility.
Cathode active materials are crucial in determining the cathode’s performance. They are made by mixing lithium with precursors. This year, Lotte Energy Materials intends to convert the LMO line and establish a pilot line for cathode active materials.
In addition to Lotte Energy Materials, other companies are also putting significant efforts into battery production.
SKC, which has a copper foil subsidiary, SK Nexilis, is accelerating the development of silicon anode materials, which are considered essential for next-generation batteries. Silicon anode materials are created by uniformly mixing silicon, which has superior lithium storage capacity, with the graphite commonly used in existing anode materials. Theoretically, silicon can store about ten times more lithium than graphite, reducing battery weight and shortening charging time.
In 2021, SKC invested $80 million in UK company Nexeon, securing a technology license for silicon anode materials. Silicon anode materials are classified as low-content or high-content based on their mixing ratio with graphite. A mixture containing less than 15% silicon is considered low-content, while 15% or more is considered high-content.
SKC plans to develop both low-content silicon anode materials, primarily for affordable EVs, and high-content ones for premium EVs. They aim to establish a pilot line in Suwon by the first half of this year, begin trial production, and start customer certification in the fourth quarter.
Another cathode material manufacturer, EcoPro BM, has also announced plans to enter all four major material sectors for secondary batteries, including anode materials, separators, and electrolytes. Since 2021, the company has been hiring research personnel and developing silicon anode materials and sulfide-based solid electrolytes.
EcoPro BM plans to integrate the firing, grinding, and quality control technologies accumulated through cathode material production into new material development. An official from EcoPro stated, “We are currently pursuing the development of various materials to diversify our portfolio.”
