Pilot development completed for ultra-high-nickel cathode materials for premium EVs and high-voltage mid-nickel for standard EVs
Ultra high-nickel cathode materials maximize driving range while enhancing safety and lifespan… also suitable for high-power mobility, including UAM and autonomous driving
High-voltage mid-nickel cathode materials deliver improvements across energy density, cost competitiveness, and safety
Complete cathode material portfolio addresses all vehicle segments… strengthens business competitiveness in the cathode materials market by addressing diverse customer demands
POSCO Future M has strengthened its premium electric vehicle market strategy and now possesses a comprehensive cathode material portfolio capable of addressing premium, standard, and entry-level EV markets.
POSCO Future M has completed the pilot development of ultra-high-nickel cathode materials for premium electric vehicles and high-voltage mid-nickel cathode materials. The company currently produces and supplies premium cathode materials centered on N8x*, and expects to further strengthen its business competitiveness in the cathode materials market by responding to diverse customer demands through mass production and supply of these newly developed materials.
*N8x: High-nickel cathode materials with nickel content of 80% or higher
Ultra-high-nickel cathode materials are premium materials that maximize driving range by increasing energy density with nickel content of 95% or higher. POSCO Future M is developing these materials to supply premium electric vehicles in key advanced markets, such as the United States and Europe, as well as urban air mobility (UAM), which is gaining attention as a future transportation option. As the expansion of AI utilization in mobility and the advancement of autonomous driving capabilities require substantial power consumption, the demand for ultra-high-nickel cathode materials that maximize energy density is expected to increase significantly.
While ultra-high-nickel cathode materials have relatively low thermal stability and shorter battery life due to their high nickel content, POSCO Future M has secured the required performance by combining single-crystal materials—which bond key raw materials into unified particle structures—with existing polycrystalline materials. Single-crystal materials exhibit robust particle structures with minimal cracking during charge-discharge cycles, and their structural stability has been further enhanced through the addition of auxiliary materials and surface coating of these materials. Cost competitiveness has also been secured through improved productivity in calcination processes.
POSCO Future M has also completed the pilot development of high-voltage mid-nickel cathode materials, targeting the standard electric vehicle market. High-voltage mid-nickel cathode materials reduce the proportion of expensive nickel to approximately 60%, while addressing the resulting decrease in energy density through high-voltage operation. Safety has been further enhanced by increasing the manganese content and implementing single-crystallization to minimize expansion and contraction during charge-discharge cycles. Additionally, cost competitiveness is enhanced by using co-precipitation-free precursors* during manufacturing, reducing expensive nickel content and cobalt in raw materials, and substituting inexpensive lithium carbonate for lithium hydroxide.
*Co-precipitation-free precursor: Precursor manufactured by omitting the co-precipitation process that mixes complexing agents and modifiers into metal solutions containing dissolved key precursor raw materials such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese
Following the pilot development of ultra-high-nickel and high-voltage mid-nickel cathode materials, POSCO Future M plans to secure mass production technology. This will enable timely production and supply upon request from domestic and international automotive manufacturers and battery companies.
Prior to this, in May, POSCO Future M completed pilot development of LMR cathode materials in collaboration with POSCO Holdings’ POSCO N.EX.T Hub, which oversees POSCO Group R&D, amid announcements by global automakers, including GM and Ford, regarding LMR battery adoption plans, and decided to secure mass production technology within the year. LMR cathode materials are gaining attention as next-generation materials that can rapidly replace the entry-level EV market currently occupied by LFP, as they can utilize existing cathode material production lines and offer superior recycling value compared to LFP cathode materials.
The POSCO Group maintains its policy of leading the future battery industry by conducting research and development on next-generation materials, such as lithium sulfide, solid electrolytes, and lithium metal anodes, at POSCO Holdings’ POSCO N.EX.T Hub.
▲ POSCO Future M has completed pilot development of ultra-high-nickel cathode materials for premium electric vehicles and high-voltage mid-nickel cathode materials. A POSCO Future M researcher is examining ultra-high-nickel cathode material crystals.