POSCO Future M to mass produce NCMA single crystal cathodes

Employees at POSCO Future M’s Pohang Cathode Material Plant are commemorating the inaugural shipment of high-nickel NCMA single-crystal cathode materials to Ultium Cells in the U.S. on November 27. [Courtesy of POSCO Future M]

POSCO Future M Co, a Seoul-based manufacturer of cathodes for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, announced it will produce single crystal cathodes at its plant in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, as part of its approach to reach greater profitability by bringing the high-valued product to market.

According to the statement released on Wednesday, the battery materials maker will begin mass production of monocrystals made of nickel, cobalt, manganese, and aluminum (NCMA), which is 86 percent nickel, and supply the products to Ultium Cells LLC, a U.S. joint venture founded by General Motors Co. and LG Energy Solution Co.

Single crystal cathodes, consisting of one continuous crystal particle, are promising materials for EV manufacturing by ensuring greater energy density and longer battery life spans.

POSCO Future M became the world’s first manufacturer of high-nickel single cystal cathodes in March 2023 by tapping into its exceptional technology in heating and coating.

The company plans to manufacture monocrystal materials in a range of particle sizes and to mass-produce standalone application single-crystal cathode materials that maximize the stability and lifespan of EV batteries by 2026.

Demand for single crystal cathodes has surged in response to the rapid advancement of EVs, with the materials 15 to 20 percent more expensive to produce and more profitable.