Lithium, the most crucial raw material for cathode materials, has the largest reserves in China, located in Sichuan Province. This article will review the industrial layout of cathode material manufacturers in Sichuan.
Note:
There are two main types of cathode materials for power batteries: lithium iron phosphate and ternary cathodes (lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide and lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide).
Precursors are the front-end materials used to obtain cathode materials. The main precursor for lithium iron phosphate is lithium phosphate; the main precursor for ternary materials is nickel cobalt manganese hydroxide.
Hunan Yuneng related companies
Hunan Yuneng (full name: Hunan Yuneng New Energy Battery Materials Co., Ltd.), an A-share listed company, was established in 2016 and is headquartered in Xiangtan City, Hunan Province. It ranks first in domestic shipments of cathode materials. Its main customers are CATL and BYD.
Sichuan Yuneng New Energy Battery Materials Co., Ltd.
Hunan Yuneng's wholly-owned subsidiary, established in 2020, is located in Anju District, Suining City. It is currently constructing a lithium iron phosphate production base with a planned capacity of 230,000 tons, of which 50,000 tons are already in operation. It also plans to build a ternary lithium material production base with a planned capacity of 50,000 tons.
Sichuan Yuning New Energy Materials Co., Ltd.
Hunan Yuneng's wholly-owned subsidiary was established in 2020 and is located in Anju District, Suining City. It owns a precursor iron phosphate production base with a capacity of 90,000 tons.
German nanotechnology related enterprises
Shenzhen Defang Nano Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Defang Nano), an A-share listed company, was established in 2016 and is headquartered in Nanshan District, Shenzhen. It ranks second in domestic shipments of cathode materials. Its main customer is CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited).
Yibin Defang Times Technology Co., Ltd.
Qujing Lintie Technology Co., Ltd. (a joint venture between Defang Nano and CATL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company. Established in 2021, it is located in Yangchun Industrial Park, Jiang'an County, Yibin City. It owns a lithium iron phosphate production base with a capacity of 80,000 tons.
The core component of new energy vehicles is the power lithium battery, which supplies energy for the electric vehicle's propulsion. The performance of the power lithium battery is closely related to the overall vehicle performance. So what materials are used in the lithium battery packs of new energy vehicles? The materials used in new energy vehicle batteries include superconducting materials, solar cell materials, hydrogen storage materials, solid oxide battery materials, smart materials, magnetic materials, and nanomaterials. As the main energy storage component of a car, the lithium battery pack directly affects the vehicle's performance.
The development of new energy vehicles is rapid and has gradually become an important direction for the future development of automobiles. As the main energy storage component of a vehicle, the lithium battery pack directly affects its performance. Lithium battery packs have advantages such as high energy density, high power output, long lifespan, fast charging, and low pollution, making them the preferred battery for new energy vehicles. Due to their performance advantages in various aspects, lithium battery packs are widely used in electric vehicles, and their main body is formed by a casing.
The lithium battery packs for new energy vehicles use thermally conductive silicone pads. These pads are made primarily of organic silicone, with added fillers, thermally conductive materials, and other polymeric materials. They possess excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulation properties and are widely used in electronic components and lithium battery cooling systems. During vehicle operation, continuous vibrations and shocks occur; the softness of the thermally conductive silicone pads effectively absorbs and cushions these vibrations. Furthermore, by adhering tightly to the heat source and radiator, they ensure effective and reliable heat transfer during vehicle movement.
A significant portion of the weight of new energy vehicles comes from the battery. Given a fixed energy density, the number of battery cells is also fixed. Therefore, battery weight reduction generally involves two aspects: structure and enclosure. Considering the usage scenarios of automotive products, withstanding mechanical impacts such as drops, collisions, vibrations, and compression/puncture is a necessary first step. Furthermore, it must meet requirements regarding chemical immersion, high and low temperature resistance, fire retardancy, thermal management, and design aspects such as lightweighting and wiring layout. The requirements for the packaging materials of power lithium batteries are also extremely stringent. Therefore, the plastic materials used for power lithium battery packaging must meet the following performance requirements:
1. Excellent resistance to chemical corrosion and oil;
2. Excellent resistance to high and low temperatures, and superior mechanical properties;
3. High flowability, excellent processing performance, superior surface gloss, and dimensional stability;
4. It possesses excellent waterproof, moisture-proof, flame-retardant, and environmentally friendly properties, as well as thermal conductivity.
5. Excellent dielectric properties, suitable for applications in electrical environments;
6. Excellent weather resistance and good long-term performance, allowing for long-term use in harsh climates.
As one of the key materials for power lithium batteries, anode materials account for approximately 10% of the battery cost. Currently, lithium battery anode materials are mainly natural/artificial graphite, while silicon-based anodes and metallic lithium anodes are also experiencing rapid growth. In the field of power batteries, artificial graphite accounts for over 80% of anode materials.
