Lanxess and its German compatriot IBU-Tec Advanced Materials have entered into a research cooperation to develop advanced iron oxides for use in cathode material for lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries. They aim to optimise the electrochemical properties of LFP batteries, such as energy density, charging speed and the number of charging cycles.

Wacker Chemie is to invest an amount in the “low triple-digit million euro range” on a new, 20,000 tonnes/year silicones facility at Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic. Development work on the site is set to begin shortly, with construction starting in Q2, subject to approval by the authorities. It is due onstream at the start of 2025 and will create up to 20 jobs.

Arkema has taken an unspecified stake in its French compatriot Tiamat, a pioneer in sodium-ion battery technology, having also contributed to Tiamat's recent €22 million fund-raising. The company said this is “once again demonstrating its willingness to be a key player in battery materials, offering a unique range of products adapted to all energy storage technologies”.

BASF and Swedish firm have entered into a black mass purchase agreement. This is described as part of a broader collaboration, with the goal of setting up a battery recycling value chain for the European electric vehicle (EV) battery market.

Heraeus Precious Metals has established a new dedicated Hydrogen Systems business line, headed by Dr Philipp Walter. This provides precious metal-based products for electrolysers and fuel cells, notably electrocatalysts for next-generation applications, plus technologies for precious metal recovery from production scrap and end-of-life materials, such as catalyst-coated membranes.

Korea’s LG Chem has broken ground on a nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminium cathode materials facility on a 170 hectare site in Clarksville, Tennessee. Starting in 2026, this will supply 60,000 tonnes/year of battery materials, enough for about 600,000 electric vehicles, and will be the largest of its type in the US.

ICL has announced plans to invest $30 million to develop a customer innovation and qualification centre (CIQC) for the energy storage systems market in North America. This should become “a hub for ICL, its partners and its customers, as the company looks to make significant advancements in its battery materials R&D capabilities”, ICL said.