POSCO FUTURE M has developed premium battery materials for electric vehicles and standard and entry-level electric vehicle materials.
POSCO FUTURE M announced on the 21st that it has successfully completed the pilot development of ultra-high nickel positive electrodes and high-voltage mid-nickel positive electrodes for premium electric vehicles. Currently, POSCO FUTURE M is producing premium positive electrodes primarily based on N8x (high nickel positive electrodes with over 80% nickel content), and aims to respond to a wider variety of customer demands through mass production of the newly developed materials.
Ultra-high nickel positive electrodes are characterized by expanding the nickel content to over 95%, increasing energy density, and maximizing driving range. They are being developed for supply to premium electric vehicles as well as urban air mobility (UAM), which is gaining attention as the future of transportation.
Although ultra-high nickel positive electrodes have a high nickel content, which results in relatively low thermal stability and shorter battery life, POSCO FUTURE M has secured the required performance by combining major raw materials into a single particle structure using single-crystal materials alongside existing polycrystalline materials.
The pilot development of high-voltage mid-nickel positive electrodes aimed at targeting the standard electric vehicle market has also been completed. The nickel content ratio has been lowered to about 60%, resolving the issue of decreased energy density through high voltage. The material minimizes shrinkage and expansion during charging and discharging, increasing safety.
Following the pilot development of ultra-high nickel and high-voltage mid-nickel positive electrodes, POSCO FUTURE M plans to secure mass production technology to timely produce and supply to domestic and international automakers and battery companies upon request. They also aim to secure mass production technology for lithium manganese rich (LMR) battery materials for the entry-level electric vehicle market within the year.