New Direction of Anode Material Development

At present, the main raw materials for the above two types of lithium manganese iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries basically have the ability to be supplied, and are used in the production and preparation processes of two different technology routes. The lithium manganese iron phosphate core preparation process can be roughly divided into solid-phase method and liquid-phase method. Solid-phase method generally uses the raw material of manganese dioxide, which has the advantages of low reaction temperature, simple process and low cost, but there are shortcomings such as large grain size and insufficient reaction.

Therefore, in addition to some enterprises due to the limitations of the conditions or have self-developed upgrading process, most of the battery enterprises are currently using the liquid phase method, the raw material is high-purity manganese sulfate, through the organic solvent to produce chemical reaction to generate lithium manganese ferromanganese phosphate, which has the advantages of small grain size and full reaction. Its shortcoming is that due to the extensive use of organic solvents, making the cost slightly increased, but some companies have been optimizing the process to control costs.

Combines the benefits of two major battery technologies

The latest data show that from January to June this year, in China's cumulative installed capacity of power batteries, ternary lithium batteries for 48GWh, accounting for 31.5% of the total installed capacity, a year-on-year increase of 5.2%; the same period of lithium iron phosphate battery cumulative installed capacity of 103.9GWh, accounting for 68.3% of the total installed capacity, a year-on-year increase of 61.5%. It can be seen that the lithium iron phosphate battery installed volume exceeded the ternary lithium battery more than 1 times, this is because of its comprehensive performance is better. Lithium manganese iron phosphate battery is essentially a technical extension of lithium iron phosphate battery, added manganese, not only inherited the many advantages of lithium iron phosphate battery, but also has more strengths.

The reason why lithium manganese iron phosphate is favored by many enterprises is because it has the advantages of both lithium iron phosphate security and high energy density of lithium ternary battery, which is one of the upgrading directions of power battery. In terms of safety, lithium iron phosphate battery is better than lithium ternary battery; and lithium manganese iron phosphate battery and lithium iron phosphate battery, with good thermal stability and safety, and non-toxic environmental protection, environmentally friendly and safe. No matter in the case of pinprick, overcharge, etc., lithium manganese iron phosphate battery basically will not occur spontaneous combustion, deflagration. In terms of cycle life, the lithium manganese iron phosphate battery also has a high cycle life at room temperature, with a theoretical average cycle life of more than 3,000 times, which is higher than the 2,000 times of the lithium iron phosphate battery and the 1,500 times of the lithium ternary battery's average cycle life.

Before either ternary lithium battery or lithium iron phosphate battery, many of its core technology patents still belong to foreign enterprises, forming a certain technical barriers. But China's enterprises in the lithium manganese iron phosphate battery many core technology research and development, has realized a new breakthrough and in the world's advanced ranks. In terms of energy density, lithium manganese iron phosphate battery is better than lithium iron phosphate battery and lithium ternary battery. The electrode voltage of LiFePO4 battery is about 4.1V, higher than that of LiFePO4 about 3.4V, the platform voltage is increased by 20%, and the energy density of the same volume and mass is increased by 20% compared with that of LiFePO4 battery, which means that LiFePO4 battery will have a longer driving range. In low-temperature performance, lithium manganese iron phosphate battery energy density is 15% to 20% higher than lithium iron phosphate battery; in the environment of -20 ℃, lithium manganese iron phosphate battery capacity retention rate can reach nearly 80%, while the capacity retention rate of lithium iron phosphate battery is 60% to 70%, ternary lithium batteries performance is worse. In terms of material cost, both manganese and iron are cheaper and more abundant than lithium, adding lower price and can optimize the battery performance of manganese, reducing the use of expensive lithium, cost reduction benefit is obvious, but also alleviate the tense supply of lithium and lithium prices to the enterprises brought about by the burden of the procurement cost. With the continuous optimization of lithium iron manganese phosphate battery process, it is about to enter the stage of mass production, and its manufacturing cost is expected to be further reduced.

Commercialization prospects are promising

To some extent, industrial demand is the biggest driving force behind the accelerated commercialization of new technologies and products.

In today's new energy automobile industry has a safer, longer driving range, cheaper, more environmentally friendly and fast charging and other performance of power batteries under the continuous pursuit of new power battery products are emerging. From the materials and structure, in addition to the traditional lithium ternary batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries, semi-solid state batteries, sodium ion batteries, cohesive batteries and other development momentum, as well as all-solid-state batteries, graphene batteries and other batteries are in the process of research and development.

From the point of view of existing technology, LiFeMnPO4 battery has a large market development potential in the future for a long period of time. Although there are a variety of power battery products on the market, the battery companies named their own products in the name is "a variety of", "colorful", but lithium manganese iron phosphate battery should not be underestimated. The reason why it is favored by many enterprises, because it has a good development prospect, is expected to be reflected in the commercialization of its cost reduction, efficiency and environmental protection of more advantages. Power battery field itself has the characteristics of faster technology iteration, with the enhancement of enterprise innovation ability, the continuous emergence of new varieties of more advantageous power battery is the objective law of development, but also to adapt to the general trend of industrial demand.

(Source: China Automotive News)
[Zhongshun New Energy Marketing Department September 19, 2023 Responsibility: Xiao Zheng]
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