Nippon Shokubai and Arkema S.A. Announces Strategic Partnership to Mass-Produce Lifsi Electrolyte Salt for A European Battery Supply Chain
May 30, 2022 at 08:44 pm EDT
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Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd. and Arkema S.A. are joining forces to launch feasibility studies and establish a joint venture for the construction of an industrial plant for the production of LiFSI (Lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide) ultrapure electrolyte salt, a key component of battery cells for electric mobility. Ultrapure and high performance LiFSI electrolyte salts, a key component of car battery cells, will speed up the development of new electrolyte formulations for the next generations of batteries, including semi-solid and solid state batteries, by significantly increasing their power, stability, cycle life, and recyclability, while reducing charging time in high or low temperature conditions. This industrial project will support the development of the European battery value chain and participate in the global need for carbon-neutral mobility.
Combining Arkema's fluorochemicals expertise and Nippon Shokubai's unique know-how in the industrial-scale production of high-purity LiFSI, both partners have joined forces in a strategic partnership that has led to the development of an innovative and integrated process. Based on this cutting-edge patented technology, a LiFSI pilot production line has been installed on the Pierre-Bénite site and successfully came on stream in 2021. To support the exponential growth in demand for battery cell materials, Arkema and Nippon Shokubai are taking a step forward by launching feasibility studies and establishing a joint venture to enable the mass-production of LiFSI electrolyte salt at Arkema's Pierre-Bénite site in France by end 2025.
NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD. is engaged in the manufacture and sale of chemicals. The Company has three business segments. The Basic Chemical segment manufactures and sells acrylic acid, acrylic acid ester, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, ethanolamine, and glycol ethers. The Functional Chemical segment is involved in the manufacture and sale of water-absorbing resins, medical intermediates, polymers for concrete admixtures, electronic information materials, iodine, maleic anhydrides, adhesives, resins for coating materials, resin molding products and processed adhesive products. The Environmental and Catalytic segment manufactures and sells automobile catalysts, nitrogen oxide (NOx) removal catalysts, process catalysts and others.