LANXESS is strengthening its presence in the fast-growing battery materials sector by opening a new battery laboratory at its Krefeld-Uerdingen site in Germany. The specialty chemicals company will use the facility to develop and test advanced materials based on iron oxide and iron phosphate for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The new laboratory enables LANXESS to evaluate material performance directly in battery cells. As a result, both the company and its customers can more quickly assess how different grades of iron oxide and iron phosphate influence cell efficiency, processability and suitability for specific applications.
Moreover, the laboratory’s equipment supports research beyond LFP batteries. It is also designed to test materials for emerging technologies such as sodium-ion batteries, which use sodium iron pyrophosphate as a cathode material. “Today, battery manufacturers evaluate more than just raw material availability. They also focus on processing reliability and its impact on cell performance,” said Murat Gürsoy, Head of Innovation for Iron Oxides and Iron Phosphate at LANXESS. “By combining material development with cell testing, we can determine at an early stage whether a material performs effectively in real battery systems.”
Global Demand for LFP Batteries Continues to Rise
The global market for LFP batteries is expanding rapidly, driven by electric vehicles and energy storage applications. In China, around three-quarters of electric vehicles already use LFP batteries. Meanwhile, management consultancy Roland Berger projects that LFP batteries could account for 50% of the European market by 2030, compared with around 10% today. At the same time, demand for LFP materials is increasing in stationary energy storage systems supporting renewable energy, data centres and critical infrastructure. Furthermore, Europe and North America are developing local supply chains to reduce dependence on Asian suppliers and strengthen battery manufacturing capabilities.
LANXESS Leverages Longstanding Expertise in Iron-Based Materials
LANXESS is the leading Western producer of iron oxide and brings more than 100 years of manufacturing experience to the battery sector. Building on this expertise, the company has developed specialized iron oxide grades for the production of LFP cathode materials. These battery-grade materials are specifically designed to meet the requirements of battery manufacturers and are already commercially available. In recognition of this innovation, LANXESS received the 2024 ICIS Innovation Award in the “Best Product Innovation from a Large Company” category. Additionally, the company has developed iron phosphate as another precursor for LFP batteries. Unlike conventional production routes, the LANXESS process uses iron and phosphoric acid, which helps reduce the generation of saline wastewater and offers environmental benefits.
Broad Portfolio Supports the Entire Battery Value Chain
Beyond cathode material precursors, LANXESS provides a wide range of products for battery manufacturing and processing. For instance, the company supplies chemicals used in electrolyte salt production. Its Lewatit ion-exchange resins help extract and purify critical battery metals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt. In addition, LANXESS offers solutions for battery safety and thermal management, including synthetic coolants for high-voltage systems, flame-retardant additives for plastics and electrolytes, and specialized colorants for safety-related orange high-voltage components. The company also supports battery recycling by supplying process chemicals and ion-exchange resins for black mass processing, metal recovery and wastewater treatment. As per the press release, LANXESS provides integrated solutions across the battery value chain—from raw material processing and cell performance enhancement to safety, recycling and resource recovery—helping battery manufacturers improve efficiency and sustainability.
