LG Chem achieves domestic first mass production of 'High-Nickel Single Particle Cathode Material'... Battery life increased by 30%

Starting This Month at Cheongju Factory
Expansion to Annual Production of 50,000 Tons by 2027

LG Chem has become the first in Korea to start mass production of 'high-nickel single-crystal cathode materials' that can extend the lifespan of electric vehicle batteries by 30%.

LG Chem announced on the 26th that it began mass production of next-generation high-nickel single-crystal (single-particle) cathode materials at its Cheongju cathode material plant this month. The first batch of production is scheduled to be shipped to global customers starting next month. LG Chem plans to expand the single-particle cathode material production line to its Gumi plant by 2027 and increase total production capacity to over 50,000 tons per year.

Single-particle cathode materials are made by forming multiple metals such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese into a single particle shape (one-body). They are considered the key to solving the core challenges of next-generation batteries: lifespan and capacity. Conventional cathode materials have a multi-particle (polycrystalline) structure made by clustering metal particles in small groups. As charging and discharging are repeated, gaps form between the materials, generating gas in these gaps, which gradually reduces battery lifespan.

Using highly durable single-particle cathode materials reduces gas generation, enhances stability, and can extend battery lifespan by more than 30% compared to existing materials. The issue of battery lifespan degradation has been a barrier to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Single-particle cathode materials are expected to contribute to overcoming the limitations of existing batteries.

Battery capacity also increases by more than 10%, as the density can be raised compared to conventional cathode materials. For example, if an electric vehicle equipped with a battery made from conventional cathode materials can travel 500 km on a single charge, a battery of the same size using single-particle cathode materials can travel over 550 km.

LG Chem is the first in Korea to mass-produce high-nickel single-particle cathode materials. Recognizing that gas generation in batteries was a pain point for customers, LG Chem began full-scale research and development in 2021 to improve this issue.

In the initial mass production phase, LG Chem plans to produce cathode materials by mixing single-particle and conventional cathode materials at a 2:8 ratio, then gradually switch to 100% single-particle cathode materials. The application will also be expanded to products including pouch-type batteries and 4680 cylindrical batteries (46 mm diameter, 80 mm length).

Shin Hak-cheol, Vice Chairman of LG Chem, said, "High-nickel single-particle cathode materials are an innovation that will change the landscape of the future battery materials market and the key to solving customer pain points. Based on our battery material technology and diversified product portfolio, we will lead the market and leap forward as the world's largest comprehensive battery materials company."