Battery Materials

Cathode active materials (CAM)

Cathode active materials are the heart of a lithium-ion battery. Within the electrified powertrain, they provide the greatest level of differentiation and comprise the largest material value.

Our innovative and proprietary know-how allows for customization of the optimal CAM dedicated for specific application segments and customer needs. Our broad product portfolio includes

• Materials with high capacity or fast-charging capabilities
• Technically high-performing materials for high-end applications
• Materials to maximize battery lifetime
• Materials with a customized balance of energy, power, lifetime and costs

Thanks to our broad portfolio, we offer materials suitable for all battery cell applications, including light-duty vehicles, heavy-duty vehicles, stationary energy storage, consumer electronics, e-bikes or e-scooters, medical devices or power tools as well as aerospace, aviation and marine applications.
   

Battery recycling

Battery recycling allows valuable materials contained in end-of-life batteries and production scrap to be recovered and reintegrated into the production cycle. Recycling reduces the dependency on primary mining resources as well as emission of greenhouse gases, while establishing a local supply of key raw materials.

Based on our extensive knowledge of the electric vehicle industry and our unparalleled expertise in the chemical industry, we have developed comprehensive solutions for battery recycling. We are thus able to cover all steps along the entire battery recycling value chain, from logistics to discharging and dismantling, as well as black mass production and refining, leveraging our strong partner network.
   

Metals management

Raw material security and metal risk management solutions are essential to enable a successful battery business. BASF provides metal management services to customers to manage their risks more effectively. We offer a full range of services, including ensuring security of supply through global sourcing and recycling footprints, effective price risk management, liquidity management through trading, global end-to-end optimization of metal flow, supply and inventory management or fixed and index-based pricing mechanisms and forward hedges. We have also established a responsible sourcing management framework to enable low CO₂ footprints and a strong ESG performance.

The Battery Materials division holds one of the top five market positions in all strategic business areas in which it operates.

The main CAM competitors (alphabetical order) include Easpring, EcoPro BM, Huayou, L&F, LG Chem, Posco Future M, Ronbay and Umicore.

Our innovation strategy for battery materials focuses on three key areas:

• We develop high-performance CAM for lithium-ion battery technologies. This enables our customers to optimize their battery cells in terms of cost, stability, sustainability and safety.
• We create advanced solutions for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries. In doing so, we not only enhance sustainability, but also improve long-term raw material security.
• We explore new materials and production technologies to ensure our future readiness. This includes researching CAM for solid-state batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and innovative materials that minimize the use of costly and scarce metals such as nickel and cobalt.

Through our global R&D setup, we collaborate with customers across different regions, maintain proximity to production plants and foster partnerships with leading academic and technological institutions worldwide.

From 2023 onward

Mass-produced cathode active materials for semi-solid-state batteries

Through its joint venture BASF Shanshan Battery Materials Co., Ltd., BASF has developed an ultra-high nickel NCM (Nickel Cobalt Manganese) cathode active material with a unique composite coating layer to address interface issues between cathode active materials (CAM) for semi-solid-state batteries and solid electrolytes. This not only enhances the energy density by ensuring higher capacity and lower resistance, but also improves the cycling performance and calendar life by suppressing side reactions in interfaces between the CAM and the electrolyte. BASF and Beijing WELION New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., a pioneering battery producer with over 40 years of experience in exploring solid-state battery technologies, moved swiftly from concept to mass production in just one year through seamless teamwork and a shared commitment to technological advancement. The collaboration represents a true milestone toward industrializing solid-state batteries.