POSCO Future M has expanded its cathode material portfolio to cover premium, standard, and entry-level electric vehicle (EV) markets. The company has completed pilot development of ultra-high-nickel cathode materials for premium EVs and high-voltage mid-nickel cathode materials.
It currently produces and supplies premium cathode materials centered on N8x, a high-nickel material containing 80% or more nickel, and is preparing for broader production and supply of the newly developed materials. Ultra-high-nickel cathode materials, with nickel content of 95% or higher, increase energy density to extend driving range.
POSCO Future M is developing these for use in premium EVs in advanced markets, such as the United States and Europe, as well as for potential applications in urban air mobility (UAM).
As AI integration in mobility and the growth of autonomous driving raise energy demands, interest in ultra-high-nickel cathode materials is expected to grow. Because high nickel content can reduce thermal stability and battery life, POSCO Future M has sought to balance performance by combining single-crystal and polycrystalline materials.
Single-crystal cathodes bond raw materials into unified particle structures that are more resistant to cracking during charge-discharge cycles. Their stability is further reinforced through auxiliary materials and surface coatings. Productivity improvements in calcination processes have also supported cost efficiency.
The company has also developed high-voltage mid-nickel cathode materials aimed at the standard EV market. These reduce nickel content to about 60% while offsetting the lower energy density through high-voltage operation.
To enhance safety, the manganese content has been increased and single-crystallization applied to minimize particle expansion and contraction. Manufacturing costs are lowered by using precursors manufactured without the co-precipitation process (which avoids mixing complexing agents and modifiers into dissolved nickel, cobalt, and manganese solutions) and by substituting lithium carbonate for lithium hydroxide, while also reducing cobalt usage.
Following these pilot developments, POSCO Future M plans to establish mass production technologies to enable production and supply in line with demand from domestic and international automotive and battery manufacturers.
Earlier this year, POSCO Future M also completed pilot development of lithium manganese-rich (LMR) cathode materials in collaboration with POSCO Holdings’ POSCO N.EX.T Hub, which leads group-wide R&D. Global automakers including GM and Ford have announced LMR adoption plans, and POSCO Future M intends to secure mass production technology for LMR cathodes within the year.
LMR materials are being studied as an alternative to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) for entry-level EVs, with the advantage of compatibility with existing production lines and higher recycling value compared to LFP. The POSCO Group is also conducting research on next-generation materials, including lithium sulfide, solid electrolytes, and lithium metal anodes, through POSCO Holdings’ POSCO N.EX.T Hub.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News