PUBLISHER: SNE Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1565777
PUBLISHER: SNE Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1565777
<2024> Technology Trend and Market Outlook for Cathode Materials of Lithium-ion Secondary Batteries (~2035)
The lithium-ion secondary battery market is shifting from small IT applications toward a more substantial focus on electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage system (ESS) markets. Demand for lithium-ion batteries in EVs is rapidly increasing, driving growth in the market for cathode materials used in these applications.
Cathode materials, which play a crucial role in supplying lithium in lithium-ion secondary batteries, include layered structure materials such as LiCoO2 (LCO), Li(Ni1-x+yCoxMny)O2 (NCM), Li(Ni1-x+yCoxAly)O2 (NCA), and spinel-structured LiMn2O4 (LMO). Recently, LiFePO4 (LFP) cathode materials, favored for their cost efficiency and driven by China's EV market expansion, have also gained substantial industry attention.
Due to its superior physical and electrochemical properties and high energy density, LCO is often used as a cathode material for mobile IT devices, though the high cost of cobalt is a significant drawback. LMO, on the other hand, is cost-effective and has excellent thermal stability, though it has limitations such as lower reversible capacity and reduced lifespan at high temperatures.
NCM, which enables high discharge capacity, can reach approximately 200 mAh/g with nickel content over 80%. South Korean cathode material companies have been actively researching high-capacity Ni-based cathode materials over the past decade, making NCM and advanced derivatives like NCMA mainstream in the market.
LFP, with its affordable iron-based composition, has gained a competitive edge in cost-efficiency. With the recent surge in prices of raw materials like cobalt and nickel for ternary materials, LFP's cost advantage has become more pronounced. A novel technology, LMFP (LFP with added manganese), addresses the limitations of LFP and has been adopted by major Chinese manufacturers like CATL, BYD, and Gotion for commercialization. LFP batteries surpassed the share of NCM (nickel, cobalt, manganese) and NCA (nickel, cobalt, aluminum) ternary batteries in China's EV market after September 2020, growing from 17% in 2020 to 36% in 2022. Global automakers such as Tesla, Volkswagen, Ford, and Stellantis are also exploring the potential of LFP batteries.
High Voltage Mid-Nickel (HV Mid-Ni) NCM, initially commercialized by Umicore, fell out of favor with the rise of high-nickel alternatives due to issues such as material cracking and reduced battery life. However, with advancements in single-crystal anode materials and improved battery technologies, HV Mid-Ni NCM is re-emerging as a viable competitor to LFP. South Korean companies that use high-nickel materials are considering expanding their investment in this area.
Cathode materials, one of the four primary components (cathode, anode, electrolyte, separator) of lithium-ion secondary batteries, account for approximately 30-40% of the overall cost. Thus, to commercialize large-scale lithium-ion batteries, improving cathode performance while reducing costs is essential. Globally, there are over 200 cathode material manufacturers, with around 100 to 150 actively engaged in production. Japan has around 20-30 companies, Korea around 15-30, and China and other regions around 100-150. Umicore, a multinational company in Belgium, is also notable in the sector. Additionally, there are approximately 150 companies worldwide that supply raw materials and precursors for cathode materials.
The global cathode materials market is dominated by companies in China, Japan, and Korea. Chinese companies have emerged as leaders, leveraging domestic demand and the growth of major Chinese battery makers, while Japanese firms rely on advanced precursor technologies to compete. Korean companies face intense price competition from Chinese suppliers and technological competition with Japanese firms.
This report provides insights into the latest technical trends across various cathode material types, with a focus on Ni-rich NCM. It also explores cobalt-free cathode technologies and single-particle cathode developments. Additionally, chapters are dedicated to emerging technologies for LFP and LMFP cathodes, high-voltage cathode technologies, and their manufacturing processes.
In-Depth Report Highlights:
- Gain insights into the latest technologies for high-interest LFP and high-voltage (HV) cathode materials.
- Understand the advancements in Ni-rich NCM cathode materials.
- Explore new developments in cobalt-free and single-particle cathode materials.
- Obtain data on production, demand, and capacity expansion plans for cathode materials by major producers and cell manufacturers.
- Access comprehensive information on major cathode producers in China, Korea, and Japan.
- Discover detailed information on the manufacturing processes of ternary and LFP cathodes.
- Analyze supply and demand forecasts for cathode active materials (CAM) by major battery manufacturers, and gain market outlook insights.
- Track the evolution of cathode material trends over the past 3-5 years.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Status of Cathode Material Technology & Development Trend
1. Introduction
- 1.1. Status of Cathode Material Development
- 1.2. Design Criteria
- 1.2.1. Ionic Bonding and Covalent Bonding
- 1.2.2. Mott-Hubbard Type and Charge Transfer Type
- 1.2.3. Concept of Charge transfer Reaction in 3d Transition in Solid Phase
- 1.2.4. Concept of Diffusion in Solid Phase and Two-Phase Coexistence Reaction
- 1.3. Characteristics required in Cathode Materials
2. Types of Cathode Material
- 2.1. Layered Composites
- 2.1.1. LiCoO2
- 2.1.2. LiNiO2
- 2.1.3. LiMO2 (M = Fe, Mn)
- 2.1.4. Ni-Mn Based
- 2.1.5. Ni-Co-Mn 3-Component System
- 2.1.6. Li-rich layered compounds
- 2.2. Spinel based Composites
- 2.2.1. LiMn2O4
- 2.2.2. LiMxMn2-xO4
- 2.3. Olivine based Composites
- 2.3.1. LiFePO4
- 2.3.2. LiMPO4 (M = Mn, Co, Ni)
- 2.3.3. CTP (Cell-to-Pack) Technology
- 2.4. Low-cost electrode materials
- 2.4.1. NMX: Co-free Cathode materials
3. Other cathode material
- 3.1. Fluoride based composites
Chapter 2. Ni-Rich NCM Technology
1. Introduction
2. Issues of Ni-Rich NCM
- 2.1. Cation mixing
- 2.2. H2-H3 Phase
- 2.3. Residual lithium compounds
3. Solution to Ni-Rich NCM Issues
- 3.1. Transition metal doping
- 3.2. Surface modification
- 3.3. Concentration gradient structure
- 3.4. Single crystal approach: Long-Life Characteristics through Single Particles
Chapter 3. HV (High Voltage) Cathode Technology
1. HV Cathode Current state
- 1.1. Current status in China
- 1.2. Current status in Korea
- 1.3. Current status in Japan
2. HV Cathode Active Material
- 2.1. LMFP (Li(M)FePO4)
- 2.2. LNMO : LNMO(LINI0.5MN1.5O4)
- 2.3. LCO (LiCoO2)
- 2.4. Li rich Manganese NMC(L1.2Mn0.54N0.13C0.13O2)
- 2.5. HLM : LMNCO (L1.2Mn0.54N0.13C0.13O2)
3. Issues of HV Cathode Active Material
- 3.1. Surface degradation
- 3.2. Gas release
- 3.3. Phase transformation
- 3.4. Microcracks
- 3.5. Degradation of LCO bulk & interface
- 3.6. Formation & Evolution Mechanism of CEI
- 3.7. Parasitic Oxidation Reaction at LCO
- 3.8. Transition Metal Dissolution at LNMO
- 3.9. Surface Cracks and Phase Changes
- 3.10. Degradation of Li-rich Manganese NMC cathode
4. Solutions to HV Cathode Active Material
- 4.1. Element Doping
- 4.2. Surface Coating
- 4.3. Single Crystal (SC) Favbrication
- 4.4. Structural Design (Connection Gradient)
- 4.5. Multifunctional Electrolyte Additives
Chapter 4. Manufacturing Process of Cathode Materials
1. Manufacturing Process of Cathode Materials (NCM)
- 1.1. Mixing
- 1.2. Calcination
- 1.3. Crushing
- 1.4. Sieving
- 1.5. Magnetic Separation
2. Manufacturing Process of Cathode Materials ((LFP)
- 2.1. Solid-state Synthesis Method
- 2.2. Liquid-phase Synthesis Method
- 2.3. Precursor Method
3. Manufacturing Process of Precursor
- 3.1. Production Flow of Ni-based NCM
- 3.2. Production Flow of LFP (Solid-state Method)
- 3.3. Production Flow of LFP (Liquid-phase Method)
- 3.4. Post Reactor/Reactor Process
4. Evaluation of Cathode Material Characteristics
- 4.1. Chemical Composition Analysis
- 4.2. Measurement of Specific Surface Area
- 4.3. Particle Size Measurement
- 4.4. Tap Density Measurement
- 4.5. Measurement of Moisture Content
- 4.6. Measurement of Residual lithium Carbonate
- 4.7. Thermal Analysis
- 4.8. Particle Strength
5. Manufacturing Process of Cathode Plate
Chapter 5. Outlook for Global LIB Market (~2035)
- 1. Global Secondary Battery Installation Outlook
- 2. Global Secondary Battery Shipment Outlook
- 3. Global Secondary Battery Production Outlook
- 4. Global Secondary Battery Production Outlook by Suppliers
- 5. Global Secondary Battery Production M/S Outlook by Suppliers
- 6. Global Secondary Battery Production by Cathode Chemistry
- 7. Global Secondary Battery Production M/S by Cathode Chemistry
Chapter 6. Global Cathode Supply Status and Market Outlook
- 1. Demand Outlook by Cathode Application ('21~'35)
- 2. Demand Outlook by Cathode Chemistry ('21~'35)
- 3. Demand M/S Outlook by Cathode Chemistry ('21~'35)
- 4. Demand Outlook by Cathode Chemistry for EVs ('21~'35)
- 5. Demand Outlook by Cathode Chemistry for ESS ('21~35)
- 6. Secondary Battery Cathode Shipment Details ('21~24)
- 7. Secondary Battery Cathode Shipment Details by Country (2021~2024)
- 8. Shipment (Supply) Volume by Ni-based CAM Supplier ('21~'24)
- 9. Shipment M/S by Ni-based CAM Supplier ('21~'24)
- 10. Shipment (Supply) Volume by LFP Cathode Supplier ('21~'24)
- 11. Shipment M/S by LFP Cathode Supplier ('21~'24)
- 12. Comprehensive Analysis of CAM Supplier Status (as of 2023)
- 13. Comprehensive Analysis of LFP CAM Supplier Status (as of 2023)
- 14. Capa. Expansion Plan & Supply Demand Outlook of Multi-Component Cathode Material Supplier ('21~'30)
- 15. Capa. Expansion Plan & Supply Demand Outlook of LFP Cathode Material Supplier ('21~'30)
- 16. Price Outlook by Cathode Material ('21~'30)
- 17. CAM Market Size Outlook ('21~'30)
Chapter 7. Cathode Demand Status by LIB Maker
- 1. CAM Demand by Application and Chemistry ('21~'24)
- 2. CAM Demand by LIB Maker ('21~'24)
- 3. Demand for CAM by Chemistry from LIB Maker ('21~'24)
- 4. CAM Demand and Supplier Status and Outlook for Major LIB Makers
- CATL / LGES / BYD / SDI / SK On / Panasonic / CALB / Guoxuan / EVE / REPT
- 5. Supply-Demand Overview Among Key Players
Chapter 8. Status of Cathode Material Manufacturers
1. Korean Cathode Material Manufacturers
- 1.1. Ecopro
- 1.2. L&F
- 1.3. Posco Future M
- 1.4. Umicore Korea
- 1.5. LG Chem
- 1.6. SDI(STM)
- 1.7. Cosmo AM&T
- 1.8. SM Lab
- 1.9. Top Materials
2. Japanese Cathode Material Manufacturers
- 2.1. Nichia
- 2.2. Sumitomo Metal Mining
- 2.3. Toda Kogyo
- 2.4. Mitsui Kinzoku
- 2.5. Nippon Denko
3. Chinese Cathode Material Manufacturers
- 3.1. Ronbay
- 3.2. B&M
- 3.3. XTC
- 3.4. Reshine
- 3.5. Easpring
- 3.6. CY Lico
- 3.7. ShanShan
- 3.8. ZEC
- 3.9. BTR
- 3.10. Brunp
- 3.11. LIBODE
- 3.12. Hunan Yuneng
- 3.13. Dynanonic
- 3.14. Hubei Wanrun
- 3.15. Lopal Technology
- 3.16. Rongtong Hi-TechV
- 3.17. Guoxuan(Gotion)
- 3.18. Youshan
- 3.19. Hunan Shenghua
- 3.20. Anda
- 3.21. Jintang Shidai
- 3.22. Shengfan
- 3.23. Pulead
- 3.24. Terui
4. Cathode Material Manufacturers in Other Regions
Chapter 9. Index
