Is Ningbo expected to 'lead' in the supply chain of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries?

The cathode material is the 'golden key' to solve the problem of lithium battery life in new energy vehicles. In this global 'competition warAt present, with the help of the 'Technology Innovation 2025' major project, Ningbo has developed a new generation of high-energy density cathode materials, which will significantly enhance the core competitiveness of my country's power batteries and win the first hand in international competition.

'In terms of research on lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials, we are already at the forefront of the world. The new generation of lithium batteries can allow electric vehicles to travel more than 500 kilometers at a time, which is comparable to existing domestic The technology has improved by more than 30%.' Liu Zhaoping, the founder of Ningbo Fuli Battery Material Technology Co., Ltd., one of the project undertaking companies, told reporters.

On the road of battery material research and development, Fuli's scientific research team has gone through nine years. According to reports, the positive and negative electrode materials are equivalent to the human body's 'Ren Du Er pulseAt present, the energy density of the anode material is much higher than that of the cathode. Therefore, the cathode material has become the 'short board' of the wooden barrel. How to fill the 'short board' in a low-cost and high-efficiency way has become a world-class problem.

In foreign countries, American companies represented by Tesla have taken the lead in new energy vehicles, with a cruising range of 640 kilometers. However, the production conditions of the related cathode materials are extremely harsh, resulting in the high price of this type of long-life electric vehicles, failing to replace traditional fuel vehicles on a large scale.

From a domestic perspective, due to the late start of the research and development of cathode materials, the weak technology accumulation, and the backward preparation technology and equipment conditions. 'Some battery manufacturers can only achieve the effect of capacity expansion by increasing the size of the battery. However, the ‘fatification’ or ‘growth’ of the battery cells only treats the symptoms, not the root cause.” Liu Zhaoping said.

In the dilemma, the team decided to break the situation with independent innovation. When researchers from the United States, Japan, South Korea and other countries racked their brains in the field of traditional cathode materials such as lithium cobalt oxide, lithium manganate, and ternary, the team took a new path and took a new generation of high-capacity lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials as a breakthrough point. At the forefront of the world.

'Through key technologies such as gas-solid interface modification, we give specific vacancies to the surface of the cathode material particles to stimulate chemical activity to the maximum, thereby Significantly improve material performance.' Liu Zhaoping said that technological breakthroughs have not only greatly increased the capacitance of cathode materials, but also made production conditions relatively simple, controllable and easy to industrialize.

Relying on the collaborative development of upstream and downstream units in the industrial chain, the world's first 1,000-ton lithium-rich manganese-based cathode material demonstration production line is under construction. In the next three to four years, the team will also make a fuss about the 'life' of power batteries, further optimize materials, and join forces with Ningbo Institute of Materials, Chinese Academy of Sciences and other institutions to break through key technologies such as high-voltage electrolyte...

'In recent years, Ningbo's material industry has developed strong momentum, its market share has continued to increase, and its supply chain has continued to grow. With the efforts of local companies represented by Fuli Battery, Ningbo has hopes 'Leadership' in the supply chain of lithium-ion battery cathode materials has promoted China's power battery industry to continue to grow and become stronger.' The relevant person in charge of the Municipal Science and Technology Bureau said.