3M and E-One Moli Energy have entered into a supplier agreement that will expand the use of Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) cathode materials in lithium ion batteries. 3M NMC cathode materials offer strong thermal stability, storage ability and cycle life at high rate and high temperature (45-60°C) cycling.
Under the agreement 3M will become a strategic supplier of NMC cathode materials to E-One Moli Energy, based in Taiwan. 3M granted E-One Moli Energy a license to 3M’s intellectual property rights thereby allowing E-One Moli Energy access to the NMC cathode compositions covered by the intellectual property rights for use in their MOLICEL® lithium-ion batteries.
3M’s cathode compositions include mixed metal layered oxides composed of Nickel, Manganese, and Cobalt. Because they use up to about six times less cobalt than lithium cobalt oxide cathode powders, 3M’s NMC cathode compositions is more insulated against price volatility and can be easily substituted for the industry standard Lithium Cobalt Oxide cathode composition.
"We are very pleased to be working with 3M. Using more of the 3M patented products and technology in our MOLICEL® batteries and leveraging 3M’s patent portfolio will enable us to provide batteries with higher capacity, longer life and even higher performance," said E-One Moli Energy Director of Technology, Paul Craig.
"Working with E-One Moli Energy is a great opportunity for 3M to apply its advanced materials in next-generation lithium-ion batteries for higher capacity and improved thermal stability," said Chris Milker, Business Manager, 3M Electronics Markets Materials Division.
3M currently offers a family of cathode products including BC-618, BC-718 and BC-723. The company has developed these proprietary cathode compositions with precise control of structure and the compositions are tailored for both energy and power applications to serve the consumer electronics and automobile industries. 3M’s battery materials product and technology portfolio includes cathode compositions, anode compositions, specialty electrolyte salt and additives, and heat transfer fluids.
