Yangtze Evening Post Online, July 3 (Correspondent Ding Rui, Reporter Xue Mayi) In recent years, new energy vehicles have undoubtedly become one of the most important products changing the future of human life. As the "heart" of new energy vehicles, power lithium batteries, represented by lithium batteries, have always been a field that automakers have been eager to develop. However, for a long time, the key technology of the protective barrier of lithium batteries—the aluminum-plastic film encapsulation—has been monopolized by foreign countries. This is also the only material in power lithium batteries that has not been domestically produced.
Yesterday, reporters learned that this situation is expected to change in the next few years. Suzhou Lithium Shield Energy Storage Materials Technology Co., Ltd., incubated in Huangdai High-tech Zone, Xiangcheng District, Suzhou City, has independently developed a microwave non-polar dry casting process for aluminum-plastic film through technological breakthroughs, and is committed to achieving the complete localization of soft-pack lithium battery packaging materials, processes, equipment and other technologies.
LiDun Materials settled in Xiangcheng District during the Suzhou International Elite Entrepreneurship Week in 2015. Power lithium batteries are filled with electrolyte and are constantly charging and discharging during vehicle operation, requiring the encapsulation materials to possess high-temperature resistance and high barrier corrosion resistance. The aluminum-plastic film used for power lithium battery encapsulation is less than 0.2 mm thick, yet it is a multi-layered composite material. Therefore, the challenge in manufacturing this material lies in integrating three or four layers of material while ensuring material quality under long-term battery application environments and various complex conditions.
"We usually combine two things together in three ways: one is to use glue, the second is to use adhesive film, and the third is to use nails. The principle of foreign processes is similar to the first two, while we use physical methods such as microwaves and plasma to create a chemical 'nail' to anchor several layers of materials together," founder Xia Wenjin explained. Foreign processes still use polar bonding methods, but polar material interfaces will be damaged when they encounter polar electrolytes and charging/discharging environments. The innovative process invented by LiDun uses a physical anchoring method to form a non-polar interface protective layer between the materials, which can better ensure the long-term safety of the interface than foreign processes.
LiDun Materials' independently developed microwave non-polar dry casting process is a global first, filling a gap in the industrialization of domestic aluminum-plastic film R&D technology. However, the company has not stopped its technological R&D and innovation efforts, but continues to improve its technology based on market feedback. To date, the company has applied for 51 national patents, with 31 granted, including 10 invention patents, leading the industry in patent holdings.
In mid-2017, LiDun Materials established a pilot production line, launching its products to the market and receiving positive feedback. Next, the company plans to build a large-scale production base. "We plan to rank among the top three in the industry within 3 to 5 years. Simultaneously, we aim to double our sales annually and list on the ChiNext board within 5 years," said Xia Wenjin. His confidence stems not only from the company's core technologies but also from the favor of the capital market. Recently, LiDun Materials received a 15 million yuan financing intention led by Shenzhen Tongchuang Weiye Asset Management Co., Ltd., valuing the company at 100 million yuan. "We also hope to combine industry resources and capital strength to build the company into a first-class company in the industry," said Xia Wenjin.
