Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese Combined into a Single Particle to Increase Battery Life
'Single Particle Cathode' and High-Nickel Cathode Materials, Solid-State Battery Materials
"Improving Electric Vehicle Driving Range, Expanding Energy Storage Capacity and Charging Speed"
'ESG Zone' Installed at Booth Center... Announcements on Solar Power Expansion and Graphite Recycling Achievements
[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] POSCO Chemical will showcase its single-particle high-nickel cathode material technology, a core material that extends the lifespan of electric vehicle batteries, at 'InterBattery 2022.' The company will also reveal solid-state battery material technology, known as the 'dream battery.' Additionally, POSCO Chemical will disclose its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management achievements, such as increasing the use of renewable energy by installing solar panels at its factories.
On the 17th, POSCO Chemical plans to participate in 'InterBattery 2022,' the largest secondary battery exhibition in Korea, to unveil its core cathode and anode material technologies. The exhibition theme is set as 'Opening a New Era for a Green Future,' introducing key material products and technologies for future mobility batteries, including those for electric vehicles.
The highlight is the unveiling of single-particle cathode materials and high-nickel cathode material technology. This is POSCO Chemical's innovative material technology that increases electric vehicle driving range and enhances stability. The N96 high-nickel product, which maximizes nickel content, will also be exhibited. Single-particle cathode materials combine various raw materials such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese into a single particle structure to improve strength and thermal stability. This enables an extended battery lifespan. These materials are of high interest, especially for high-performance electric vehicles. POSCO Chemical has completed the development of various high-nickel single-particle cathode materials tailored to the requests and detailed specifications of automakers and battery manufacturers and is pushing forward with mass production.
POSCO Chemical will also reveal its portfolio of solid-state battery materials and anode materials, which significantly improve safety and energy density compared to conventional liquid electrolytes. Solid-state battery cathode materials are key materials that the POSCO Group is developing technology for in the mid to long term. For anode materials, a diverse portfolio including natural, artificial, low-expansion, and silicon-based materials will be introduced to enhance energy storage capacity and charging speed. According to the Korea Battery Industry Association, as of September last year, POSCO Chemical ranked sixth globally in market share, supplying $154.3 million (approximately 190.4 billion KRW) worth of anode materials worldwide. Additionally, the group will disclose its mid- to long-term 'technology roadmap' including lithium metal anode materials and electrolytes.
The company will also explain its ESG management and progress in building its own value chain. A scenery-view display will be installed on the front exterior of the exhibition hall to emphasize an eco-friendly image. The booth will be arranged with entrances open on all sides, allowing visitors to check detailed exhibition information via QR codes. An 'ESG Plan Zone' will be set up in the center of the booth, showcasing cases such as the installation of solar power panels at the company's cathode and anode material factories to increase renewable energy usage and environmental management achievements like graphite recycling at the anode material factory. Earlier in January, POSCO Chemical became the first battery material company to obtain the Environmental Product Declaration certification for anode materials. This signifies meaningful eco-friendly achievements throughout the entire business process, from raw material mining to production.
The value chain will be introduced in detail using 3D graphics and videos. This month, POSCO Chemical signed an investment agreement with Gwangyang City for precursor materials used in cathode materials. Through the group, a value chain securing lithium and nickel raw materials for cathode materials has been established. For anode material raw materials, POSCO is investing in natural graphite mining rights, and POSCO Chemical is investing in spherical graphite as an intermediate material. The company is also producing needle coke, the raw material for artificial graphite, in-house.
Meanwhile, POSCO Chemical plans to introduce the group's eco-friendly vehicle integrated solution, 'e Autopos,' at the exhibition. e Autopos is a comprehensive eco-friendly mobility solution and marketing brand that includes battery materials, automotive steel sheets, drive motors, hydrogen fuel cell metal separators, and battery pack steel materials. Min Kyung-jun, CEO of POSCO Chemical, emphasized, "We will complete our global top-tier competitiveness through next-generation material technology, raw material value chain competitiveness, and ESG management that activates renewable energy use and resource recycling."
InterBattery 2022, held over three days until the 19th, is Korea's largest battery exhibition hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and organized by the Korea Battery Industry Association and COEX. This year marks its 10th anniversary. A total of 250 companies, including the three major battery makers LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On, are participating, setting up a record 700 booths. The Battery Association expects about 30,000 buyers to visit the exhibition, and the actual number of visitors is anticipated to be higher when including industry insiders, students, and the general public.
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