Nippon Mining & Metal to Make Li-ion Battery Positive Electrode

Nippon Mining & Metals announced on Monday the firm starts commercial production of positive electrode material for lithium ion battery for vehicle. The firm introduces the facility with annual 300 tonnes of production capacity at plant in Ibaraki, which makes spattering target material, for several hundred of million yen. The plant starts commercial production in June after the approval for the line by the buyer of battery maker. The firm expects 1-1.5 billion yen of sales when the plant reaches full capacity operation in second half of 2010. The firm secures space to expand the capacity to annual 1,500-2,000 tonnes.

The firm produces positive several electrode materials with different mix rate for cobalt, manganese, nickel and lithium carbonate depending on the users’ requirement. The firm started the development at test plant at the plant in Ibaraki. The firm decided the commercial production after the firm established the integrated production process with the original wet making technology.

Traditional positive electrode for lithium ion battery is made by mixing powder of cobalt, manganese, nickel and lithium compound. However, Nippon Metal & Mining succeeded to make the electrode by mixing liquid materials and separating the crystal. The firm expects the original electrode enables the battery to keep 20-30% longer life than traditional one.