Lets understand what are electrolyte additives
- Salt Additives: These additives are additional salts added to the electrolyte solution to enhance ionic conductivity. Examples include lithium salts like LiPF6, LiBF4, LiClO4, etc. Lithium salts are commonly used in lithium-ion batteries and are essential for their operation.
- Solvent Additives: Different solvents or solvent mixtures are used as additives to modify the properties of the electrolyte, such as viscosity, conductivity, and temperature stability. For instance, ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), and other organic solvents are often used in lithium-ion battery electrolytes.
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Functional Additives: These additives are specifically designed to serve various functions, including improving cycle life, thermal stability, and preventing undesirable reactions. Examples include:
- Electrolyte Stabilizers: Compounds like vinylene carbonate (VC), fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), and others enhance the stability of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, reducing degradation during charge/discharge cycles.
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Fluoroethylene Carbonate (FEC):
- Purpose: FEC is utilized to enhance the stability of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, which forms on the surface of the lithium-ion battery’s graphite anode during cycling. This SEI layer is crucial for the battery’s performance and longevity.
- Benefits: FEC helps in forming a more stable SEI layer, reducing electrolyte decomposition, and improving the cycling performance and overall lifespan of the battery.
- Use: It is often added in small concentrations to the electrolyte mix used in lithium-ion batteries.
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Vinylene Carbonate (VC):
- Purpose: VC, similar to FEC, aims to improve the stability of the SEI layer, especially on high-voltage cathodes, like nickel-rich cathodes.
- Benefits: VC contributes to the formation of a stable SEI layer, reducing the degradation of the cathode material and enhancing the battery’s cycling stability.
- Use: It’s used as an electrolyte additive in lithium-ion batteries, typically in small amounts in the electrolyte solution.
- Flame Retardants: Additives are used to improve the safety of batteries by suppressing thermal runaway reactions.
@siva_kannan There is one more coming up in line that is NEOGEN
All the companies are running behind electrolyte additives
Now given all 3 who takes the lion share?
- Neogen - wherein in the have the entire value chain
- Aether/Ami Organics - wherein they have electrolyte additives
From a customer point of view, i would basically end up buying from one customer than buying from many and separating the transactions
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