Cylindrical secondary battery using LMR cathode material

Design, manufacturing and evaluation technology secured

Performance verified using pilot-production cells

SM Bexel corporate identity logo
SM Bexel corporate identity logo

SM Bexel, the manufacturing arm of SM Group, announced Friday that it is working with a US-based global automaker to develop cylindrical secondary batteries using lithium-manganese-rich, or LMR, cathode material — a next-generation chemistry — while building a systematic evaluation framework to verify the performance of the new material.

The project centers on applying LMR, which has drawn attention as a next-generation high-energy-density battery material, to actual cells to verify its performance and viability. SM Bexel is using its own pilot-production cylindrical cell line to carry out the entire process at the cell level, from electrode design and cell fabrication to formation tailored to the material's characteristics and initial performance and reliability evaluation.

Under the collaboration, the US automaker handles cylindrical cell design accounting for LMR characteristics, optimization of formation process conditions, and analysis of how battery performance changes with the new material. SM Bexel is responsible for reviewing cathode and anode electrode design conditions, manufacturing electrodes, applying and producing cells on its pilot-production assembly line, conducting initial charge-discharge and electrochemical characterization, and establishing data and evaluation standards for the new material.

The two companies have built a joint development process running from material development through cell design, cell fabrication, performance evaluation, results analysis and design improvement. The framework lets them comprehensively verify key performance metrics — including capacity, output, cycle life and stability — in actual cells, going beyond simple assessment of a material's physical properties.

The electric vehicle industry has been actively pursuing next-generation cathode materials capable of simultaneously delivering high energy density and stable cycle-life characteristics, driven by the push to extend driving range and improve the energy efficiency of battery systems.

LMR is regarded as a next-generation material that can achieve higher energy density than conventional high-nickel cathode materials, depending on its composition and design. Automakers and battery manufacturers worldwide are continuing research and development to apply it to actual cells.

Through this project, SM Bexel said it has strengthened its full-cycle development capabilities, linking electrode design, manufacturing process conditions and cell fabrication and evaluation to the specific characteristics of LMR. The company expects to shorten evaluation timelines and reduce trial and error in future new-material development by continuously accumulating cell performance data and evaluation standards for each material.

The evaluation technology secured through the project is not limited to LMR. It can also be used to verify the real-cell applicability of a wide range of battery materials, including high-nickel cathode materials, LFP and LMFP cathodes, silicon-based anode materials, and electrolytes and additives.

SM Bexel plans to expand its application scope to cylindrical cell platforms of various sizes and specifications in response to customer requirements.

Over the medium to long term, the company expects to build a battery materials database from the accumulated material and cell evaluation data, and advance it into a data-driven battery development platform by linking it with AI-based material and cell performance prediction technology.

"This project is significant in that it has elevated SM Bexel's battery material, electrode and cell design and manufacturing capabilities by connecting them to the actual development requirements of a global automaker," said Choi Se-hwan, chief executive of SM Bexel's battery business division. "We will continue to strengthen our ability to apply various next-generation battery materials to actual cells and verify their performance, and expand our technology cooperation with global automakers, battery makers and materials companies."

Meanwhile, SM Bexel's battery business division recently concluded this year's wage and collective bargaining agreement without a labor dispute, extending its streak of dispute-free settlements to six consecutive years since 2021. With negotiations wrapped up, the company plans to stabilize production of its core battery products, including defense batteries, and pursue new business expansion.


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