Thermoplastics for battery, powertrain and charging infrastructure

Customized polyamides Durethan and Pocan from LANXESS, for example, are ideal for components in lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicle drives and charging infrastructure. Potential applications include battery covers, high voltage plugs, control unit housings, cell holders and coolant lines.

Specialty Chemicals for the Cell

Materials from LANXESS also prove their worth in the “heart” of the lithium-ion battery the cell.

Bayoxide E B iron oxide pigments, for example, are the starting material for lithium iron phosphate. This salt is a component of the cell cathode and enables, among other things, rapid charging of the battery at high charging currents. Another example are the dispersions Rhenofit CNT-4, which contain tiny carbon tubes. In the cell cathodes and anodes, these ensure that the capacities of the batteries and the number of possible charge cycles increase. Lewatit ion exchange resins also perform important tasks. They are used to produce battery-capable nickel and cobalt as well as high-purity lithium. All three metals are components of the cathodes.

The four main components of a lithium ion cell:

• the cathode stores lithium when the battery is discharged
• the anode absorbs lithium when charging the battery
• the charge transport between the two electrodes takes place via the electrolyte in the form of lithium ions
• the separator, which is continuous for lithium ions, separates the anode and cathode and thus prevents a short circuit

Secure supply of electrolyte producers in Europe

Lithium hexafluorophosphate has established itself as the lead salt for the electrolyte. The massive expansion of production capacities for lithium-ion batteries in Europe will also increase the demand for this electrolyte component. Among others it is produced from hydrofluoric acid and phosphorus trichloride. LANXESS is one of the leading manufacturers of these two starting materials.