LANXESS is expanding its development activities for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The specialty chemicals company has commissioned a new battery laboratory at its Krefeld-Uerdingen site in Germany. This facility is being used to investigate iron oxides and iron phosphate as raw materials for LFP cathode materials.
The laboratory allows different material grades to be tested directly in battery cells. Testing focuses on their effects on cell performance, processability, and suitability for specific applications. LANXESS aims to shorten development processes and assess material properties under battery cell conditions at an earlier stage.
LFP Batteries Gain Market Share
The investment comes amid a growing market for LFP batteries. According to market data cited by LANXESS, LFP batteries are already used in more than three-quarters of electric vehicles in China. In Europe, their market share is expected to reach 50 percent by 2030, compared with around 10 percent today. In addition to electric vehicles, stationary energy storage systems, data centers, and critical infrastructure are considered other potential markets.
According to the company, LANXESS has been producing iron oxides for around 100 years and has developed specific grades for manufacturing LFP cathode materials. The company positions the battery laboratory as part of its broader offering for the battery industry. The new facility primarily expands LANXESS’s ability to test its own raw materials under battery cell conditions.
