<2024> LIB Electrolyte Li-salts, Additives Technology Trends & Market Outlook (~2035)
Electrolyte is one of the 4 major materials
of lithium-ion secondary batteries. It is largely composed of solvents, lithium
salts, and additives.
In general, the important characteristics required for organic electrolytes for lithium-ion secondary batteries are lithium-ion conductivity and electrochemical stability. Therefore, regardless of the electrode used, an electrolyte with excellent lithium-ion mobility and no serious electrochemical decomposition reaction within the battery operating potential range must be used to secure excellent battery performance.
In lithium-ion secondary batteries, lithium
salts are the main components of the electrolyte and play an important role in
determining the performance and stability of the battery. Lithium salts secure
the conductivity of lithium ions and act as a medium that effectively transfers
charges within the battery. Representative lithium salts include lithium
hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiTFSI), and
lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI). LiPF6 is widely used due to its high
conductivity and stability at low temperatures, but its thermal instability at
high temperatures and side effects due to hydrolysis are pointed out as
problems.
As an alternative, lithium salts such as
LiFSI are being studied, which offer excellent conductivity and thermal
stability. LiFSI shows particularly superior chemical and thermal stability
than LiPF6, and is characterized by high ionic conductivity and low electrical
resistance. In addition, LiFSI provides low viscosity and excellent
electrochemical stability, contributing to improving the lifespan and safety of
batteries. However, it also has disadvantages such as manufacturing cost and
corrosiveness, so an appropriate combination is the key to improving battery
performance and safety.
Additives play an important role in
improving the performance of electrolytes in lithium-ion secondary batteries.
Additives are mainly used to improve the stability, conductivity, and
interfacial properties of electrolytes. For example, additives that promote the
formation of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) contribute to improving the
life and stability of the battery. Representative additives include
fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and vinylene carbonate (VC), which form an SEI
layer to enhance the stability of the anode. In addition, sulfide-based
additives improve the stability of the cathode, thereby enhancing performance
at high voltages.
Recent studies have been developing various
new additives, and efforts are being made to optimize battery performance
through their combination. For example, certain additives used with LiFSI can
widen the electrochemical window of the electrolyte and extend the cycle life
while maintaining high energy density. The synergy with these additives is a
key factor in improving various performance indicators of lithium-ion secondary
batteries, such as energy density, cycle life, and safety. The innovative combination
of LiFSI and additives will play an important role in accelerating the
commercialization of next-generation high-performance lithium-ion secondary
batteries.
Lithium salts and additives, which play a
key role in electrolytes, were mostly supplied by Japanese companies in the
past, but the landscape has changed as Chinese companies have significantly
expanded their production capacity. In the case of LiPF6, the most commonly
used general-purpose lithium salt, only a few companies, including Stella
Chemifa, Morita, and Kanto Denka in Japan and Hoosung in Korea, could supply
battery-quality products in the past, but in the past, large companies such as
Tinci Materials and DFD have become absolute powerhouses in the current market
through the development of lithium salt technology and expansion of production
capacity. In the case of special lithium salts (such as LiFSI) and additives,
companies that held original patents, such as Mitsubishi Chemical, Central
Glass, and Nippon Shokubai in Japan, almost monopolized the market, but
currently, Cheonbo in Korea and HSC and Genyuan in China are continuously
increasing their market share based on bypass patents or their own technologies.
In this report, we have organized in detail
the technical information on lithium salts and additives, which are the most
essential components of lithium-ion secondary battery electrolytes, and have
provided a multi-faceted outlook on the market for lithium salts and additives
based on our various outlook data to help readers understand the overall market
situation.
Finally, we have tried to provide researchers
and interested parties in this field with a wide range of insights from
technology to market by summarizing the business status and future plans of
major lithium salt and additive manufacturers.
Strong points of this report
1.
Includes detailed technical
information on the main characteristics and applications of lithium salts and
additives
2.
Provides objective data through
market outlook based on our forecast and various data
3.
Understands the main supply
status and outlook of the lithium salt and additives market
4.
Includes detailed information on
the products and production status of major players in Korea, China, and Japan
-Contents-
Chapter Ⅰ. Overview
1.1 Background····························································································
8
1.2 Electrolyte
Overview·······································································
13
1.3 Electrolyte components and
properties························································ 19
Chapter Ⅱ. Li-Salts / Additives
Development Trends
2.1 Lithium Salt Development
Trends···································································· 25
2.1.1 Lithium Salts
Overview················································································
25
2.1.2 Functions and features for each lithium salt type
······················································· 29
2.2 Additives Development
Trends······························································ 43
2.2.1 Additives for high voltage anodic
film formation ··················································· 43
2.2.2 Additives for low voltage anodic film formation
··················································· 60
2.2.3 Process of forming the anode SEI by reductive-decomposing-type
compounds ································· 70
2.2.4 Functional additive to regenerate the structurally destroyed SEI
layer·················· 71
2.2.5 Reactive compound-removing additive that causes performance
deterioration of batteries·················· 75
2.2.6 Electrolyte additives for high-Ni-based cathode interfacial
stabilization ······························ 79
2.2.7 Electrolyte additives for improved output characteristics
······················································ 85
2.2.8 Electrolytes using LiFSI salt
········································································ 89
2.2.9 Flame retardant additives to improve thermal stability
························································ 90
2.2.10 Additives for interfacial stabilization of high-capacity anodes
····························································· 91
2.2.11 Ni-rich and high voltage system additives (w/ or w/o
SiOx)····················· 92
2.2.12 Additives for silicon
anodes······················································································
94
2.2.13 Additives for LFP
cathodes······················································································
97
2.2.14 Additives for LMFP
cathodes······················································································
99
2.2.15 HF, Metal scavenger functional additives for LFP &
LMFP cathodes··························
100
2.2.16 Additives for LMR cathodes······················································································ 101
2.2.17 Additives for safety······················································································ 103
2.3 Study on Lithium Salt and
Additive Synthesis Mechanisms·················································· 105
2.3.1 F Electrolyte(LiFSI) ······················································································ 105
2.3.2 VC (Vinylene Carbonate Synthesis) additives ········································· 111
2.3.3 VC (Vinylene Carbonate Synthesis) additives ········································· 116
2.3.4 VEC (Vinylethylene Carbonate) additives ·························································· 119
2.4 All-Solid-State Battery Additives······································································ 123
2.4.1 The need for all-solid-state batteries ··············································································· 123
2.4.2 All-solid-state battery issue··············································································· 124
2.4.3 Solutions for solid electrolytes······································································· 129
2.4.4 All-solid-state cell battery development (surface modification of
cathode, anode) ······································ 132
2.4.5 Research on improving the lifetime of all-solid-state batteries··································································· 132
2.4.6 Developments by all-solid-state battery vendor·································································· 134
Chapter Ⅲ. Lithium Salt/Additives Market Trends and Forecasts
3.1 LIB Electrolyte Market
Background ······························································ 140
3.1.1 Downstream Forecast····················································································· 140
3.1.2 Supply and Demand Forecast ························································································ 141
3.1.3 Electrolyte Component Material Forecast ································································ 142
3.1.4 Cost Structure ····················································································· 143
3.2 Lithium Salts/Additives Market
Status and Forecast ················································· 144
3.2.1 General-purpose lithium salts (LiPF6)
··············································································· 144
3.2.2 Specialty lithium salts······················································································· 147
3.2.3 Electrolyte additives······················································································· 149