JX Nippon Mining & Metals to Expand Electrode Material Capacity for Li Battery

JX Nippon Mining & Metals plans to start production capacity expansion of positive electrode materials for secondary lithium ion battery in January 2011. The firm will raise the output capacity step by step from present 500 tonnes per year to maximum 4,000 tonnes per year in 2013 since the firm’s electrode materials are expected to be adopted by automotive battery makers. Capital expenditure will total approximately 10 billion yen.

The firm will construct a new plant on the group company’s site near Isohara plant, Ibaraki, Japan, where existent production facilities are located. The expansion plan will be formally approved within 2010 and the construction will start in early 2011.

The firm’s total output capacity is scheduled to reach 2,500 tonnes per year in 2012 including existent facilities in Isohara and the new plant. The firm will implement additional investment and raise the capacity to 3,500-4,000 tonnes in 2013 along the market growth. The production will be integrated into the new plant in future.

JX Nippon Mining & Metals serves positive electrode material based on cobalt-manganese-nickel with lithium carbonate additive. The firm succeeded in crystal deposition of constituent elements from the liquid solution. This technology contributes to longer battery life by 20-30% than present.

The firm also lowered impurity content by about 80% with its integrated productive process. Impurity contents cause battery’s short out.