Among domestic battery companies, Samsung SDI is the only company that focuses on batteries equipped with nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) cathodes. It is seeking to enter promising new markets such as robotics and construction machinery based on the high instantaneous power characteristic of NCA.

According to the industry on the 27th, Samsung SDI recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hyundai Motor Company and Kia for the joint development of batteries specifically for robots. Samsung SDI and Hyundai Motor Company and Kia plan to develop high-performance batteries optimized for the limited space of robots, increasing energy density significantly to enhance output and usage time while optimizing the existing configurations of prismatic and cylindrical batteries.

At the business agreement ceremony held at the Hyundai Motor Group Uiwang Research Institute, Vice President Jo Han-je (right), Head of the Strategic Marketing Team of the Small Business Division of Samsung SDI, and Executive Director Hyun Dong-jin (left), Head of the Robotics Lab of Hyundai Motor and Kia, are taking a commemorative photo. /Courtesy of Samsung SDI

One of the reasons Hyundai Motor Group chose Samsung SDI as its robotics business partner is the battery technology that Samsung SDI possesses. Samsung SDI is the only company in the country to present batteries using NCA cathodes as its main product.

Unlike the nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries primarily manufactured by LG Energy Solution and SK On, NCA batteries replace manganese in the cathode material with aluminum. Generally, nickel contributes to the battery's capacity, manganese and cobalt to safety, and aluminum to enhanced output.

Since NCA excludes manganese, there is a problem of relatively lower stability in the battery. Manganese plays a role in stabilizing chemical reactions occurring within the battery due to its stable electronic structure. Because of this characteristic, NCA batteries were mainly used in small electric tools where high instantaneous power is required but not a large number of batteries could be installed.

However, Samsung SDI minimized battery degradation (the decline of capacity and voltage) while improving both capacity and stability through self-developed aluminum materials and special coating technology. Samsung SDI is currently using NCA cathodes in its premium battery line, the P6 prismatic battery. The P6 is equipped with high-nickel NCA cathodes containing over 91% nickel, maximizing energy density.

The plaque for the 2025 Interbattery Awards featuring the 50A ultra-high output cylindrical battery of Samsung SDI. /Courtesy of Samsung SDI

Samsung SDI recently received recognition for the technology of its 50 ampere (A) high-power cylindrical battery equipped with NCA cathodes, winning an award in the battery category at the InterBattery 2025 Awards. This is considered to have the highest output among cylindrical batteries of the same specification (21mm in diameter and 70mm in height).

Samsung SDI is engaging in joint marketing with Hyundai Motor Company and Kia to explore new markets in the robotics sector. The company plans to showcase Hyundai Motor Company and Kia's service robots, DAL-e and MobED, at the upcoming InterBattery 2025 in March. The plan is to demonstrate the exhibition robots to attendees and industry stakeholders to showcase the growth potential of the battery market for robots.

Samsung SDI plans to continue enhancing its NCA battery technology. A company official noted, "Samsung SDI has consistently recorded the number one market share in the power tool sector with NCA batteries. In the future, we plan to take the lead in the electrification of sectors requiring high-power equipment, such as construction sites."