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Unleashing Infinite Potential:
from0.002%
to
infinite
The Cathode
Materials
Infinite Potential in Just 0.002%
99% of the universe is composed of hydrogen and helium. The remaining 1% is shared among about 90 elements. In the vast universe, Lithium is one of the 92 naturally occurring elements, making up just a fraction of that 1%. Lithium is equally rare on Earth. It accounts for only 0.002% of the Earth's crust— less than a single apple on a soccer field. But great transformations often begin with something small.
0.002%
Most of the Earth's crust is composed of oxygen (46.1%) and silicon (28%). The top 10 elements account for 75% of the total composition. Lithium, ranking 33rd with 0.002%, is distributed only in a few specific regions like Chile, Australia, Bolivia, and China.
3
Li
Lithium
In 1980, American chemist John Goodenough discovered that using lithium cobalt oxide as a cathode material generates high voltage, unveiling the infinite potential hidden in just 0.002%.
The invention of rechargeable batteries has transformed every aspect of our lives.
Electric cars that travels Seoul to Busan on a single charge.
Cordless vacuum cleaners that move freely around the house.
Electric bikes that store energy as you pedal.
Smartphones that charge in minutes and last all day.
The invention of rechargeable batteries has transformed every aspect of our lives.
Electric cars that travels Seoul to Busan on a single charge.
Cordless vacuum cleaners that move freely around the house.
Electric bikes that store energy as you pedal.
Smartphones that charge in minutes and last all day.
Secondary Batteries,
The True Heroes of the 'Energy Revolution'
That Have Turned Imagination to Reality
The Heart of Secondary Batteries:
Cathode Materials
Secondary batteries have freed our lives from the limits of wires,
making the world faster and freer.
A new era that crosses the boundaries we once thought were fixed.
The cathode materials, stands at the heart of this new world.
Chapter 1
To understand cathode materials, look inside a lithium-ion battery, the leading player in secondary batteries*.
-
Primary Battery: Single-use, non-rechargeable.
Secondary Battery: Rechargeable and reusable.
The Charged World
Inside Lithium-Ion Batteries
A secondary battery is primarily composed of cathode, anode, separator, and electrolyte. Inside, lithium ions move between the cathode and anode, enabling charging and discharging of the battery.
-
Charging
Lithium ions move from cathode to anode during charging.
-
Discharging
Lithium ions move from anode to cathode during discharge.
Lithium's Storage: Cathode Material
-
3LiLithium
Energy density
-
13AlAluminium
Safety
-
25MnManganese
Safety, Cost edge
-
26FeIron
Cost edge
-
27CoCobalt
Safety, Cycle life
-
28NiNickel
Energy density
Lithium is the essential metal in cathode materials.
Since the development of lithium cobalt oxide(LiCoO₂) as a cathode material in 1980, the addition of transition metals such as nickel, cobalt, iron, and manganese has significantly advanced the technology. The performance of cathode materials is determined by the types and composition of these transition metals, as well as their structural arrangement. These characteristics define the material’s suitability for specific applications.
LCO High energy density
Small electronic devices
(Smartphones, Laptops)
LFP
High stability,
Long lifespan,
Low energy density
EVs, ESS
LMO
High thermal stability,
High output
Power tools, Hybrid cars
NCM High capacity, Balanced
EVs, ESS
High-performance electronics
NCA
High energy density,
Long lifespan
High-performance electric vehicles
Cathode materials are
a critical component of batteries,
accounting for over 40%
of the battery production cost.
Currently, five major types of cathode materials are widely used in secondary batteries, making them suitable for a broad range of applications such as electric vehicles, electronic devices, and power tools.
Among these, the NCM cathode materials, composed of nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and manganese (Mn), are primarily used in electric vehicles. In 2006, LG Chem became the first company in the world to successfully mass-produce NCM cathode materials.
Chapter 2
It All Began with Batteries
LG Chem did not initially enter the cathode materials business. It all started in 1995 with research on secondary batteries. Back then, there was no relevant technologies available in Korea, making it a bold and challenging decision. However, LG Chem was confident that secondary batteries would become a game-changer in the future. Despite numerous failures and setbacks, LG Chem persisted. In 1997, LG Chem succeeded in producing a prototype of a lithium-ion battery. And just two years later, it became the second company in the world to mass-produce secondary batteries.
The emergence of the world’s only chemical company
producing secondary batteries
1990s
Cathode Materials Plant in Cheongju
Key Milestones in Batteries
-
1997
Successful production of a lithium-ion secondary battery prototype
-
1998
Began mass production and sales of secondary batteries developed with proprietary technology
-
1999
Established Korea’s first and the world’s second mass production facility for secondary batteries
(Cheongju Plant)
1999: Prismatic lithium-ion batteries -
2000
Initiated development of the world's first secondary batteries for EV
Master the Cathode Materials!
But at that time, Japan was the dominant force in the secondary battery market.
As a latecomer, LG Chem dedicated itself to cathode material research aiming to increase in-house production and reduce manufacturing costs.
Mastering in cathode materials is the key to becoming a next-generation battery leader
Eventually, LG Chem became the first in the world to successfully mass-produce NCM cathode materials (NCM523*). This marked a seismic shift in a market that had been dominated by LCO-based cathode materials. This breakthrough turned LG Chem from an industry follower to a frontrunner in the secondary battery materials sector.
- The numbers indicate the composition ratio of nickel, cobalt, and manganese as 5:2:3. For example, NCM811 represents a ratio of 8:1:1, with a significant higher nickel content.
2000s
Cathode Materials Plant in Wuxi
Key Milestones in Cathode Materials
-
2006
World’s first mass production of NCM cathode materials (NCM523)
Cathode materials production process -
2013
Mass production of cathode materials for EVs
(NCM111, 424)
EV batteries with NCM cathode materials -
2015
Mass production of high-nickel cathode materials (NCM811)
-
2020
Completed cathode materials plant in Wuxi, China
(100% renewable energy) -
2023
Completed the world's largest single-site cathode materials plant in Gumi
Cathode Materials Plant in Gumi
Chapter 3
What Makes NCM Cathode Materials Special
Towards Stronger, Longer-Lasting Batteries
Li
Lithium
Co
Cobalt
O2
Oxygen
LCO Cathode Materials
The first cathode material, lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂, LCO), was easy to manufacture, offered high stability, and had a relatively long cycle life. However, the issues lay with cobalt*. Cobalt is rarer than lithium, making it expensive and subject to supply chain instability. Its mining process also raises significant environmental and ethical concerns. Moreover, as the upcoming electric vehicle era approached, LCO’s limitations in capacity and safety prompted the need for alternative cathode materials.
- Cobalt: About 70% of the world’s cobalt supply comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), leading to price volatility and raising concerns over child labor due to artisanal mining practices. The mining process also contributes to deforestation as well as water and soil pollution. In response, LG Chem is actively developing low-cobalt cathode materials and has established responsible mineral sourcing policies to ensure ethical and sustainable supply chains.
NCM Cathode Materials
Secondary batteries for electric vehicles required greater energy density and enhanced safety, needs that LCO cathode materials could no longer fully meet. To overcome the limitations, LG Chem began researching ways to improve LCO cathode materials by adding nickel and manganese. This approach not only increased energy density and safety but also reduced the reliance on cobalt.
Raising the nickel content to boost energy density required advanced technological capabilities. However, leveraging its accumulated expertise in chemical materials LG Chem successfully developed NCM cathode materials.
Named after their key components—Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co), and Manganese (Mn)—NCM cathode materials share the same layered structure as LCO cathode materials. By incorporating nickel and manganese, NCM cathode materials enabled the development of stronger and longer-lasting secondary batteries.
NCMA Cathode Materials
LG Chem didn't settle there— it went a step further by developing even more advanced cathode materials. While increasing the nickel content boosts energy density, it also reduces the proportion of cobalt and manganese, which are essential for battery safety. This trade-off can lead to shorter battery cycle life, posing a significant challenge.
To overcome this, LG Chem developed NCMA, a quaternary cathode material that adds aluminium (Al) to the NCM composition. Aluminium enhances both safety and power. By incorporating aluminium, LG Chem was able to reduce cobalt content to lower costs, while increasing nickel content to over 80%, thereby maximizing efficiency.
As a result, NCMA has become a key material for high-performance EV batteries, enhancing driving range, power, and overall safety.
Layered structure
NCM cathode materials feature a layered structure in which octahedral units composed of transition metals are systematically stacked within an oxygen framework. This arrangement allows lithium ions to be stored efficiently between the layers, resulting in high energy density.
Towards Stronger and Safer Batteries
In 2023, LG Chem marked another milestone in cathode materials innovation by becoming the first in Korea to mass-produce high-nickel (Hi-Ni) single-crystal cathode materials with 80% nickel content. Unlike secondary particle cathode materials, single-crystal cathode materials are made by forming nickel, cobalt, manganese, and other metals into a unified one-body particle structure. This design significantly enhances durability, reduces gas generation, improves safety, stability and extends battery cycle life by more than 30%. With battery safety and cycle life emerging as critical factors in the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, these single-crystal cathode materials are gaining attention as a breakthrough technology that addresses the limitations of existing batteries.
The evolution of cathode materials paves the way
for stronger, longer-lasting, safer batteries
-
Large + Small Secondary Particle
Cathode materials engineered with controlled orientation structure to enhance safety and achieve high energy density
-
Large Secondary + Small Single-Crystal
Cathode materials that replace conventional small secondary particles with single crystal particles, reducing gas generation and improving press density.
-
100% Single-Crystal
Cathode materials with single crystal particles for enhanced durability and performance.
Chapter 4
The pursuit of pushing
beyond limits continues
Since beginning its research into secondary batteries in 1995, LG Chem has driven countless innovations. Even after 30 years, the pursuit of pushing technological boundaries remains ongoing. What innovations will future cathode materials unveil?
Ultra High-Nickel:
Enabling 1,000km on a Single Charge
LG Chem's High-Nickel cathodes materials, with unique oriented structure and surface control technology, are key for longer cycle life and lower-resistance. LG Chem aims to expand its product lineup to include Ultra High-Nickel cathode materials with 95% nickel content by 2027. Batteries with this technology could enable electric vehicles to travel over 1,000km on a single charge. The day is not far off when electric vehicles capable of making a round trip from Seoul to Busan (approximately 800km) in a single go will become a reality.
※ Drag from side to side to check.
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Small
secondaryor -
Small
single-crystal
Capacity retention
(@200 cycle)
Capacity
retention
increased
retention
increased
-
Conventional
structure -
Oriented structure
(LG Chem)
Resistance
(low SOC)
Resistance
reduced
reduced
-
Hi-Ni
(Conventional) -
Hi-Ni
(LG Chem)
The New Precursor Process:
Enhanced Performance, Lower Cost and Reduced Carbon Footprint
‘The New Precursor Process Technology’ is a breakthrough innovation aimed at advancing sustainability. LG Chem has transformed the precursor manufacturing process by utilizing uniquely designed raw materials. This innovation not only enhances performance but also reduces cathode materials process time, manufacturing costs, and even carbon emissions, thanks to a streamlined process with fewer steps.
※ Drag from side to side to check.
Battery Minerals
Ni
Co
Mn
Co
Mn
The New Precursor Process Technology
Cathode Materials Production
Lithium added before calcination
Conventional Process
-
Metal
sulfate -
-
Precursor
Cathode Materials Production
Lithium added before calcination
Materials
High-Voltage Mid-Ni Cathode Materials:
Aiming at Both Efficiency and Stability
High-voltage Mid-Ni cathode materials are designed with approximately 60% nickel content, using high voltage to compensate for the reduced capacity. LG Chem is currently developing this material by applying single-crystal technology and its proprietary new precursor process, aiming to enhance both battery output and durability. Thanks to their cost-effectiveness and stable performance, high-voltage Mid-Ni cathode materials are expected to be widely adopted in batteries for standard electric vehicles, where consumer demand is high.
※ Drag from side to side to check.
single-crystal
Resistance
(low SOC)
Resistance
reduced
reduced
-
High-Voltage
Mid-Ni(Conventional) -
High-Voltage
Mid-Ni(LG Chem)
Gas generation
(%)
Gas
generation
reduced
generation
reduced
-
-
High-Voltage
Mid-Ni(poly) -
High-Voltage
Mid-Ni(single)
-
-
High-Voltage
Mid-Ni(LG Chem)
Next-Generation LFP Cathode Materials:
Overcoming the Limitations of Low Energy Density
LFP cathode materials, composed of lithium, iron, and phosphate, are more cost-effective to produce than NCM cathode materials, as they do not require nickel or cobalt. Their strong chemical structure— featuring tightly bonded oxygen and phosphorus— also provides excellent stability. However, a key limitation of LFP cathode materials is their relatively low energy density. To overcome this, LG Chem is developing next-generation LFP cathode materials with enhanced energy density by improving rolling density.
※ Drag from side to side to check.
Milestone for rolling density*
(g/cc) / *Rolling density: A measure of how densely cathode material particles are compacted when pressed.
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2.6 Proprietary technology established
-
Rolling density
increased Enhanced calcination
& coating technology -
Rolling density
enhanced Crystal structure control
- Competitor LFP Gen 4 (2.6-2.7 g/cc)
- Gen 3 (2.5-2.6 g/cc)
- Gen 2 (2.4-2.5 g/cc)
- Today (Pilot)
- 2025
- 2026
LAPLG Advanced Phosphate Cathodes: Innovative Blending Technology
While manufacturing improvements can enhance LFP cathode materials’ performance, they cannot fully overcome its inherent limitations. To address the challenges of low energy capacity and density, LG Chem is independently developing LAP (LG Advanced Phosphate) cathode materials. LAP cathode materials are created by combining LMFP (LFP enhanced with manganese) with NCMA cathode materials in a customer-desired ratio. This hybrid approach enables LG Chem to meet customer demands for both cost-efficiency and high performance, a balance that is difficult to achieve with either NCMA or LFP alone.
※ Drag from side to side to check.
Energy
density
(Wh/L)
Energy density
increased
increased
-
Conventional
LFP -
LAP-U LAP-L
Low
T. property
(%)
Low T. property
improved
improved
-
Conventional
LFP -
LAP-U LAP-L
DSC heat flow
(J/g)
DSC heat
flow reduced
flow reduced
-
Conventional
LFP -
LAP-U LAP-L
-
Conventional
Hi-Ni
- * LAP-U : Higher LMFP Content
- * LAP-L : Higher NCMA Content
Oriented structure
The oriented structure, where small particles are aligned from the center to the surface, is a proprietary technology patented by LG Chem.
By controlling this radial orientation, internal stress within the particles is dispersed, thereby extending battery cycle life. Additionally, it enhances lithium-ion mobility to reduce surface resistance.
Unseen Innovation,
a Future of Infinite Possibilities
Although not visible or tangible, the infinite evolution of cathode materials technology is quietly reshaping the future of humanity far beyond everyday convenience.
A smartphone that runs a week on a single charge. An electric car that travels 1,000km on one charge. Batteries powering not just cars, but aircraft.
As we explore the potential of next-generation cathode materials— like lithium-sulfur and sodium-ion batteries— beyond lithium-ion batteries, innovation in cathode materials continues behind the scenes, silently shaping a new future.
LG Chem’s NEXT LEVEL Unlocked Through Cathode Materials
From 0.002% Toward ∞