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Chemicals Giant Gambles on Li-ion Batteries
May. 31 2011 - 4:57 pm | 1,296 views | 0 recommendations | 0 comments
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BASF, the German chemicals conglomerate, said last week that it would pursue a stronger position in the lithium-ion battery space by commercializing higher-quality electrolyte formulas.
Higher-quality electrolytes can enhance battery performance by improving the efficiency of transporting electronic charges inside batteries. The move into electrolytes will expand BASF’s portfolio of battery-related products and strengthen its position across the li-ion battery supply chain.
“By entering into electrolytes activities we are taking yet another step to support our customers’ competitiveness in the electro-mobility business,” said Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, Member of the Board of Executive Directors and Research Executive Director of BASF. “In the electrolytes business we intend to become a system supplier that is capable of offering tailor-made solutions to our customers.”
BASF has already developed a suite of formulations of high-quality electrolytes based on organic carbonates for customers in the battery and automotive industries.
For instance, BASF is one of the licensed suppliers of the Argonne National Laboratory’s Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese cathode materials, which employ a combination of lithium and manganese-rich mixed metal oxides. In October 2010, BASF broke ground on a $50+ million facility in Elyria, Ohio to produce advanced cathode materials for automotive lithium-ion batteries.
The chemicals conglomerate said it would begin rolling out the first products based on these formulations commercially later this year.