Lithium-ion batteries, abbreviated as Li-ion batteries, are a popular type of rechargeable battery found in a wide range of portable electronics and electric vehicles. At their core, these batteries function through the movement of lithium ions between a carbon-based anode, typically graphite, and a cathode made from lithium metal oxide.
The anodes of most lithium-ion batteries are made from graphite. Typically, the mineral composition of the cathode is what changes, making the difference between battery chemistries. The cathode material typically contains lithium along with other minerals including nickel, manganese, cobalt, or iron.
There are three classes of commercial cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries: (1) layered oxides, (2) spinel oxides and (3) oxoanion complexes. All of them were discovered by John Goodenough and his collaborators. LiCoO 2 was used in the first commercial lithium-ion battery made by Sony in 1991.
The lithium-ion battery market, valued at $54.4 billion in 2023, is experiencing rapid growth, with projections indicating a surge to $182.5 billion by 2030 and further expansion to $187.1 billion by 2032. This remarkable growth, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.2% to 20.3%, is fueled by several key factors.
We present the largest and most influential battery manufacturers, exploring their market positions and strategies that have enabled them to dominate the industry. Did you know? China is the undisputed leader in battery manufacturing, dominating the global production of essential battery materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
The company has developed all-solid-state batteries with capacities of up to 20 Ah and energy densities of over 400 Wh/kg. It has also established a 100,000-ton lithium battery recycling and smart energy storage manufacturing project in Shandong Province.