Realization of decarbonization by developing hard carbon for next-generation lithium-ion battery "All-polymer battery"

JFE Holdings, Inc.

Next-generation lithium-ion batteries “All Polymer Battery”

Structure of all polymer battery and hard carbon

Outline

【JFE Chemical Corporation】
JFE Chemical Corporation (hereinafter "JFE Chemical") is a chemical company that plays a central role in the chemical business field of the JFE Group.
Since 1995, JFE Chemical Corporation produce and sell anode materials for Lithium ion batteries using pitch derived from coal tar, which is a by-product of the steelmaking process of JFE Steel Corporation.
JFE Chemical Corporation succeeded in the world’s first development and mass production of hard carbon made from coal tar pitch based on our accumulated production technologies and know-how, we started production from 2014. This hard carbon has distinguished characteristics of high power and long life which are suitable for such as hybrid vehicles than other graphite anode.
In April 2019, JFE Chemical Corporation invested in APB Corporation (hereinafter, “APB”), a startup company that manufactures and sells next-generation lithium-ion batteries “All Polymer Battery”. We contribute to mass-production of All Polymer Battery through production and supply of hard carbon, which has low expansion and shrinkage and be suitable for an anode material of All Polymer Battery.

All Polymer Battery are revolutionary batteries that solve the problems of conventional storage batteries, such as achieving high energy density, drastically reducing costs, and ensuring high reliability in the event of abnormalities. It is expected to promote the stable use of energy and dramatically accelerate renewable energy investment. JFE Chemical Corporation will contribute to the early realization of a decarbonized society by supporting the development and production of this All Polymer Battery.

Description

The features and challenges of APB's new battery (All Polymer Battery) are described below.

[Features]
(1) Use storage batteries with renewable energy. (Stationary batteries)
Thermal power generation using fossil fuels has been reduced, and it is reported that the effect of reducing CO2 emissions. All Polymer Battery has the advantages that highly safe, durable, large batteries can be manufactured, and the process can be simplified. With the large-scale introduction of renewable energy power generation, decarbonization will be promoted.
(2) Compared to other lithium-ion batteries, all-polymer batteries do not require a drying step after coating and can be manufactured with a simple layered structure, greatly reducing the manufacturing process.
(3) CO2 reduction during battery manufacturing.
Half of the CO2 emissions (50%) in battery production is due to the use of electricity (power consumption). Aluminum accounts for 38% of power consumption and cell manufacturing accounts for 11% (see table below). All resin batteries use resin current collectors instead of aluminum current collectors, aluminum is used only for the laminate exterior material after modularization, usage amount is about 5% of conventional lithium ion battery (Power consumption decreased 38%→1.9%)

In addition, the cell manufacturing process is greatly simplified as compared to batteries, which reduces power consumption. (Power consumption decreased 11%→8.8%) In total, reduce power consumption by about 40% (100%→61.7%) .
The amount of CO2 generated during battery production, about 20% reduction effect is expected.

[Challenges]
(4) Subject to be solved is realization of commercial mass-production technology. APB will promote commercial mass-production by constructing commercial plant in Echizen city, Fukui prefecture.

The features and challenges of JFE Chemical Corporation’s hard carbon are described below.

[Features]
(1) Based on accumulated production technology and know-how, JFE Chemical Corporation has succeeded in developing and mass-producing the world's first hard carbon using coal tar pitch as a raw material, and has been producing it using technology for controlling the pore structure between crystals.
(2) As a hard carbon made from coal tar pitch is characterized by high aromaticity, it has a distinguished characteristics of high density, large capacity, low expansion and shrinkage because of Li ion storage among pores, and superior input/output characteristics.
That is why hard carbon anode is essential for All Polymer Battery.

[Challenges]
(3) Development of mass-production technology of hard carbon for that of All Polymer Battery for their commercial production.
(4) JFE Chemical Corporation will promote development of large capacity hard carbon which will contribute to realization of carbon free society through realization of high quality All Polymer Battery.