Evonik has developed a series of solutions that help make the lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EV) safer, longer lasting and more affordable. These latest innovative materials and products were showcased during the China International Battery Fair in Shenzhen, China.

The shift from traditional petrol- and diesel-powered combustion engines, to hybrid and fully EVs has placed the battery at the heart of modern e-mobility solutions. However, the standard lithium-ion batteries currently being used to power EVs still face many technical hurdles such as short life cycles and overheating issues.

Latest Evonik products help overcome life cycle and overheating issues of current lithium-ion batteries.

To overcome this, Evonik has been working on several technological developments that provide performance improvements for the industry. The company highlighted the following new solutions:

Dry coating for LIB cathode active materials

AEROXIDE is used for cathode material surface coating to stabilize cathode active material particles and to avoid cracks during charge/discharge, resulting in an increased capacity retention and enhanced battery life.

High-performance LIB separator

AEROXIDE fumed alumina enables the use of ultra-thin (≤ 1 μm), homogeneous ceramic coatings, or can be applied as ceramic filler inside the membrane, resulting in improvement of thermal stability of separator. Evonik also offers AERODISP, for ready-to-use alumina dispersions that are tailor-made for specific coating applications and compatible with a variety of different binders.

Precipitated and fumed silica

Evonik’s precipitated silica, SIPERNAT features good dispersibility & high oil absorption behavior, so can be used in PE separators to create high porosity and therefore ensure low electrical resistance (ER) of the lead-acid battery separator.

Additionally, AEROSIL fumed silica, immobilizes the liquid electrolytes in gel batteries which leads to a longer life cycle of the lead-acid battery.

Process enablers for LIB electrode and separator manufacturing

Evonik’s innovative process enablers help contribute to further improvements in the production of LIB’s which yield better electrical performance and lower the overall costs. Evonik’s broad surfactant technology platform provides a wide range of products from wetting and dispersing agents to defoamers as well as plasticizers.

High-performance silicon-based powders

Siridion Black, silicon-based powders designed to provide high energy density and superior performance for lithium-ion batteries. The high-performance anode material powders from Evonik are produced by gas-phase synthesis.

The powders consist of separated non-sintered spherical particles with a size < 200 nm and are characterized by their amorphous structure. In addition to these existing products, Evonik also develops custom silicon-based anode materials with highly specific requirements.

“In a future driven by electric vehicles, the automotive industry needs solutions that can help deliver the safety and performance requirements that enables modern e-mobility to fully replace traditional combustion engines,” said Fuliang Xia, President of Evonik Greater China. “Evonik has the technical know-how and products to help deliver these benefits.”

Evonik has developed a series of solutions that help make the lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EV) safer, longer lasting and more affordable. These latest innovative materials and products were showcased during the China International Battery Fair in Shenzhen, China.

The shift from traditional petrol- and diesel-powered combustion engines, to hybrid and fully EVs has placed the battery at the heart of modern e-mobility solutions. However, the standard lithium-ion batteries currently being used to power EVs still face many technical hurdles such as short life cycles and overheating issues.

Latest Evonik products help overcome life cycle and overheating issues of current lithium-ion batteries.

To overcome this, Evonik has been working on several technological developments that provide performance improvements for the industry. The company highlighted the following new solutions:

Dry coating for LIB cathode active materials

AEROXIDE is used for cathode material surface coating to stabilize cathode active material particles and to avoid cracks during charge/discharge, resulting in an increased capacity retention and enhanced battery life.

High-performance LIB separator

AEROXIDE fumed alumina enables the use of ultra-thin (≤ 1 μm), homogeneous ceramic coatings, or can be applied as ceramic filler inside the membrane, resulting in improvement of thermal stability of separator. Evonik also offers AERODISP, for ready-to-use alumina dispersions that are tailor-made for specific coating applications and compatible with a variety of different binders.

Precipitated and fumed silica

Evonik’s precipitated silica, SIPERNAT features good dispersibility & high oil absorption behavior, so can be used in PE separators to create high porosity and therefore ensure low electrical resistance (ER) of the lead-acid battery separator.

Additionally, AEROSIL fumed silica, immobilizes the liquid electrolytes in gel batteries which leads to a longer life cycle of the lead-acid battery.

Process enablers for LIB electrode and separator manufacturing

Evonik’s innovative process enablers help contribute to further improvements in the production of LIB’s which yield better electrical performance and lower the overall costs. Evonik’s broad surfactant technology platform provides a wide range of products from wetting and dispersing agents to defoamers as well as plasticizers.

High-performance silicon-based powders

Siridion Black, silicon-based powders designed to provide high energy density and superior performance for lithium-ion batteries. The high-performance anode material powders from Evonik are produced by gas-phase synthesis.

The powders consist of separated non-sintered spherical particles with a size < 200 nm and are characterized by their amorphous structure. In addition to these existing products, Evonik also develops custom silicon-based anode materials with highly specific requirements.

“In a future driven by electric vehicles, the automotive industry needs solutions that can help deliver the safety and performance requirements that enables modern e-mobility to fully replace traditional combustion engines,” said Fuliang Xia, President of Evonik Greater China. “Evonik has the technical know-how and products to help deliver these benefits.”