LG Chem announced on the 26th that it started mass production of high-nickel single particle (single crystal) cathode materials for next-generation batteries at its cathode materials plant in Cheongju in June.

LG Chem will provide the first production quantities to global partners in July.

LG Chem plans to expand its single-particle cathode material production line to the Gumi plant by 2027 and expand its total production capacity to more than 50,000 tons annually.

A single-particle cathode material is made of metals such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese in one particle shape (one body). It is essential in solving the core challenges of next-generation batteries, such as lifespan and capacity.

Existing cathode materials had a multi-particle (poly-crystal) structure made by aggregating small metal particles. As charging and discharging are repeated, gaps widen between the materials, and gas is generated in the holes, gradually reducing battery life.

If single-particle anode materials with high durability are used, gas generation is reduced, stability is increased, and battery life is increased by more than 30% compared to conventional ones. The problem of deteriorating battery life has been regarded as a barrier to the spread of electric vehicles. LG Chem expects that the single-particle cathode material will contribute to going beyond the limits of existing batteries.

The single-particle cathode material can increase the density compared to existing cathode materials, increasing the battery capacity by more than 10%. Suppose an electric vehicle equipped with a battery made of conventional anode material travels 500 km on a single charge. In that case, it can travel more than 550 km with a single-particle cathode material battery of the same size.

LG Chem is the first to mass-produce high-nickel single-particle cathode materials in Korea.

LG Chem plans to produce a mixture of single-particle and conventional cathode materials in a ratio of 2:8 in the initial mass production and then gradually change to cathode materials containing 100% single particles.

"High-nickel single-particle cathode material is a game-changing innovation in the future battery material market and the key to solving customer pain points." We will leap forward as a battery material company" said Shin Hak-Cheol, Vice Chairman of LG Chem

By_BK Min, KDFN kdf@kdfnews.com

The summary of this article in Korean is as follows.

■LG화학, ‘하이니켈 단입자 양극재’ 국내 최초 양산..."배터리 수명 30% 늘여"
 
LG화학은 청주 양극재 공장에서 차세대 배터리용 하이니켈 단입자(단결정) 양극재 양산을 시작했다고 26일 밝혔다. 2027년까지 단입자 양극재 생산라인을 구미 공장으로 확장해 총 생산규모를 연산 5만톤 이상 확대한다는 계획이다.

단입자 양극재란 니켈, 코발트, 망간 등 여러 금속을 하나의 입자형상으로 만든 소재다. 기존 양극재는 충전과 방전이 반복될수록 소재 사이에 틈이 벌어지는데 틈에서 가스가 발생해 전지 수명이 점차 줄어든다. 이번 단입자 양극재는 가스 발생이 적어져 배터리 수명이 기존보다 30% 이상 늘어나는 특징이 있다. 배터리 용량도 10% 이상 늘어난다.

국내에서 하이니켈 단입자 양극재를 양산하는 곳은 LG화학이 처음이다. 

신학철 LG화학 부회장은 "전지 소재 기술력과 다각화된 제품 포트폴리오를 바탕으로 시장을 이끌며 글로벌 최대 종합 전지 소재 회사로 도약해 나갈 것"이라고 말했다.

사진=LG화학

박주범 기자 kdf@kdfnews.com