LANXESS and IBU-tec Develop Iron Oxide for LFP Battery Materials

Specialty chemicals company LANXESS and battery materials manufacturer IBU-tec Advanced Materials have entered into a research collaboration in the battery field. Two German companies aim to develop innovative iron oxides for use in the production of cathode materials for LFP batteries, thereby improving the performance of this battery type.

The two companies aim to optimize the electrochemical properties of LFP batteries, such as energy density, charging speed and number of charge cycles.

European demand for LFP is expected to grow by 20% annually until 2030. However, so far this demand has been met almost entirely by non-European suppliers. The two companies' development goals are to contribute to the establishment of an independent and robust value chain for the European LFP battery market while reducing the battery's carbon footprint.

lBU-tec, headquartered in Weimar, Germany, is currently the only LFP cathode material manufacturer in Europe. LANXESS operates the world's largest primary raw material iron oxide plant in Krefeld-Uerdingen. The company has nearly 100 years of experience developing this material and can provide the required size, purity, morphology and quantity of iron oxide particles for LFP batteries.

Michael Ertl, head of the Inorganic Pigments business unit at LANXESS, said: "As IBU-tec is currently the only European manufacturer of LFP cathode materials, the company is an ideal partner for us in the development of new materials,And new materials are key components for batteries in electric vehicles and stationary energy storage systems. This is an important contribution to the sustainability and development of the European value chain in the field of battery materials.”

Jorg Leinenbach, CEO of IBU-tec, said: "With LANXESS, we will become one of the world's largest chemical companies and a strong partner in the battery sector. Through joint product development, we will combine our expertise and jointly drive Europe's development of the LFP battery market and the establishment of an independent value chain. We see this cooperation as an important step in opening up the market. IBU-tec will inform in January about further developments in materials in the battery field as well as new application possibilities."