Korea's LOTTE Energy begins solid-state battery electrolyte production

LOTTE ENERGY MATERIALS (CEO Kim Yeon-seop) has set out to build a solid electrolyte production facility, a key material for next-generation all-solid-state batteries, and has selected it as a new growth engine for the future.

On the 5th, LOTTE ENERGY MATERIALS invested 15 billion won in Iksan Plant 2 in Jeollabuk-do and held a groundbreaking ceremony for a pilot facility to produce 'sulfide-based solid electrolyte', a core material for next-generation solid-state batteries. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by CEO Kim Yeon-seop, Head of the Strategic Research Division Ryu Jong-ho, Plant General Manager Yoon Seong-han, and President of LOTTE CHEMICAL General Technology Research Institute Hwang Min-jae.

LOTTE ENERGY MATERIALS, which began research on solid electrolytes in 2018, plans to use the 1,619 ? site of Iksan Plant 2 to establish a pilot facility with an annual production capacity of up to 70 tons by the end of June. The Company’s plan is to begin full-scale operation after going through a test operation and stabilization phase by the end of this year. At the same time, the Company plans to supply samples to domestic and overseas all-solid-state battery-related companies, win supply contracts within 2025, and expand and build production facilities with an annual production capacity of 1,200 tons with the goal of mass production in 2026.

All-solid-state battery is one of the core elements of next-generation batteries and is made by solidifying the electrolyte that carries lithium ions from liquid. All-solid-state batteries are largely divided into sulfide-based, oxide-based, and polymer-based batteries. LOTTE ENERGY MATERIALS has completed the development of a nano-level product with a high ion conductivity by applying a low-cost dry synthesis method and a special wet synthesis method to a sulfide-based solid electrolyte with excellent physical properties.

In particular, sulfide-based solid electrolytes are sensitive to moisture and are manufactured and handled in dry rooms with dew points of -50? or lower. Therefore, through government R&D projects, we are additionally developing a high-ion conductive, moisture stable sulfide solid electrolyte that can be manufactured and handled even at the dew point (-35 to -45?) of the existing lithium-ion battery (LIB) process.

The advantage of this product is that it has high moisture stability, which not only reduces dry room operating costs when manufacturing solid electrolytes and all-solid-state batteries, but also allows to maintain existing LIB dry room process conditions, allowing current process conditions to be applied without additional investment.

Kim Yeon-seop, CEO of LOTTE ENERGY MATERIALS, said, 'Competition among industries is intensifying as many battery companies and material companies are pursuing solid electrolyte research, development and commercialization.' He added, 'Based on our differentiated quality and cost competitiveness through preemptive investment, we will secure major customers.'

Meanwhile, LOTTE ENERGY MATERIALS is focusing on research on next-generation battery materials in addition to its main business, Elecfoil. For research and development of 'silicon composite cathode active material', the Company made an equity investment of 7.9 billion won in Enwires, a French company with silicon cathode material technology, in July of last year, concluded a research and development contract with the Korea Automobile Research Institute for high energy density LFP anode active material in October last year, and are working closely together with the Research Institute.

Note: The content of this press release has not been edited by Fibre2Fashion staff.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)