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BASF offers a "full loop" of precious metals products & services. With more than 100 years of experience in recycling materials, BASF’s end-to-end recycling program is known and trusted around the globe. Find the latest news and media information for BASF’s Catalysts division, headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey, USA, the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts.
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Battery Materials

BASF is a leading cathode active material (CAM) supplier to battery producers for electrified vehicles around the world. Research and development activities combined with acquisitions have delivered a unique technology portfolio for lithium-ion batteries. As part of its long-term battery materials strategy, BASF will continue to work with partners in the industrial and scientific communities to develop innovative materials, processes and technologies for current and next-generation lithium-ion batteries and future battery systems.

Interactive Car
Charging Systems Battery Cells Battery Packs

Explore the car to learn more about how e-mobility works.

Housings Connectors Cable Sheaths
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Charging Systems

Charging systems have to withstand the stresses of running a lot of electricity, often in a short period of time. And increasingly, they have to withstand the rigors of outdoor, public life exposure to the elements, vandals and the occasional bump from a car.

Charging Systems

Housings

BASF enables designers to create housings that are stylish and light weight while allowing for a high degree of functional integration. Ultramid® high-strength, polyamide engineering plastics offer improved durability with greater design freedom than steel and aluminum. Elastopor® polyurethane foam systems improve strength and durability of housing components.


Charging Systems

Connectors

Connectors have to withstand daily use that could involve the impact of being repeatedly dropped or run over by a vehicle. BASF's Ultramid® PA and Ultradur® PBT engineering thermoplastics have the strength, toughness and electrical properties to meet or exceed these demanding requirements.


Charging Systems

Cable Sheaths

Elastollan® thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is used in a variety of wire and cable applications and it is an excellent choice for the jacketing of charging cables. The outstanding abrasion resistance and excellent flexibility at low temperatures make Elastollan® an ideal material for cable jacketing and insulation.


Anode Cathode Active Materials Electrolytes
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Battery Cells

What is the heart of the e-mobility? The battery. And at the heart of the battery is the cell. Its performance is fundamental to the success of e-mobility.

Battery Cells

Anode

The anode, also known as the negative electrode, is made of graphite, a natural form of carbon with a layered structure. While charging the battery, the lithium-ions are incorporated into the anode.


Battery Cells

Cathode Active Materials

The cathode, also known as the positive electrode, consists of a mixed-metal oxide containing lithium. While charging the battery, the lithium-ions move out of the crystal structure of the cathode and travel to the anode. High performance cathode active materials provide a higher energy density, which enables longer driving distance by combining a high degree of purity, unique morphology and excellent electrochemical properties.

Related products HED™ NCA HED™ NCM

Battery Cells

Electrolytes

Electrolytes allow the lithium-ions carrying the battery’s charge to flow freely between the cathode and the anode. Electrolytes must be extremely pure and as free of water as possible in order to ensure efficient charging and discharging of the battery.


Casings Cell Frames
Explore

Battery Packs

Safely and efficiently assembling the cells, modules and pack is an engineering challenge. These wide range of materials and technologies can be used to reduce mass, enhance design flexibility and allow for component and function integration.

Battery Packs

Casings

Battery packs are designed to last for more than 10 years, so the battery cases need to withstand extreme environmental conditions and be durable for the long term. Our technologies and concepts for battery packs build on our long history of success converting the metal structures to reinforced thermoplastics. Cases constructed with engineering plastics can achieve up to a 40% mass reduction, while reducing cost through functional integration and tooling savings.


Battery Packs

Cell Frames

Batteries often use cell frame supports when they are assembled into modules. Our high-strength, temperature-resistant Ultramid® thermoplastics are designed to be both lightweight and strong, enhancing durability and battery life expectancy. Depending on customer requirements, we also offer grades with superior hydrolytic stability, flame retardance and dimensional stability.


Explore

Charging Systems

Charging systems have to withstand the stresses of running a lot of electricity, often in a short period of time. And increasingly, they have to withstand the rigors of outdoor, public life exposure to the elements, vandals and the occasional bump from a car.

Charging Systems

Housings

BASF enables designers to create housings that are stylish and light weight while allowing for a high degree of functional integration. Ultramid® high-strength, polyamide engineering plastics offer improved durability with greater design freedom than steel and aluminum. Elastopor® polyurethane foam systems improve strength and durability of housing components.



Charging Systems

Connectors

Connectors have to withstand daily use that could involve the impact of being repeatedly dropped or run over by a vehicle. BASF's Ultramid® PA and Ultradur® PBT engineering thermoplastics have the strength, toughness and electrical properties to meet or exceed these demanding requirements.



Charging Systems

Cable Sheaths

Elastollan® thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is used in a variety of wire and cable applications and it is an excellent choice for the jacketing of charging cables. The outstanding abrasion resistance and excellent flexibility at low temperatures make Elastollan® an ideal material for cable jacketing and insulation.



Explore

Battery Cells

What is the heart of the e-mobility? The battery. And at the heart of the battery is the cell. Its performance is fundamental to the success of e-mobility.

Battery Cells

Anode

The anode, also known as the negative electrode, is made of graphite, a natural form of carbon with a layered structure. While charging the battery, the lithium-ions are incorporated into the anode.



Battery Cells

Cathode Active Materials

The cathode, also known as the positive electrode, consists of a mixed-metal oxide containing lithium. While charging the battery, the lithium-ions move out of the crystal structure of the cathode and travel to the anode. High performance cathode active materials provide a higher energy density, which enables longer driving distance by combining a high degree of purity, unique morphology and excellent electrochemical properties.

Related products HED™ NCA HED™ NCM


Battery Cells

Electrolytes

Electrolytes allow the lithium-ions carrying the battery’s charge to flow freely between the cathode and the anode. Electrolytes must be extremely pure and as free of water as possible in order to ensure efficient charging and discharging of the battery.



Explore

Battery Packs

Safely and efficiently assembling the cells, modules and pack is an engineering challenge. These wide range of materials and technologies can be used to reduce mass, enhance design flexibility and allow for component and function integration.

Battery Packs

Casings

Battery packs are designed to last for more than 10 years, so the battery cases need to withstand extreme environmental conditions and be durable for the long term. Our technologies and concepts for battery packs build on our long history of success converting the metal structures to reinforced thermoplastics. Cases constructed with engineering plastics can achieve up to a 40% mass reduction, while reducing cost through functional integration and tooling savings.



Battery Packs

Cell Frames

Batteries often use cell frame supports when they are assembled into modules. Our high-strength, temperature-resistant Ultramid® thermoplastics are designed to be both lightweight and strong, enhancing durability and battery life expectancy. Depending on customer requirements, we also offer grades with superior hydrolytic stability, flame retardance and dimensional stability.



The demand for lithium-ion batteries is growing steadily, and new applications such as electric cars and plug-in hybrid cars will spur demand even further in the coming years. Indeed, cathode active materials are central to the performance, affordability, safety and sustainability of advanced electrified vehicles’ batteries.

Additionally, BASF offers anode binders, that enable higher capacity, increased number of charge / discharge cycles and reduced charging times.

Advanced cathode active materials offer higher performance in terms of energy density and efficiency, which translates into a safer battery that fulfills customers’ requirements.

BASF’s broad battery materials portfolio includes advanced cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries such as Nickel Cobalt Aluminum (NCA) oxide and Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) oxide, which play a key role in determining battery performance, energy density, service life and safety. Our global battery materials business, along with our research and development capabilities, enable us to provide broad expertise to our customers in the development of new battery materials and products.

BASF Battery Materials: Shaping the future of electromobility

There will be approximately 1.5 billion cars on the road worldwide by 2025. In a world that grapples with air pollution and the humans' effects on climate change, this number is daunting. Solutions that help reduce emissions and improve air quality are needed. And that’s where BASF comes in!

Lithium-ion batteries: How do they work?

Take a look at the functionality of Lithium-ion batteries

What makes BASF Unique?

  • Largest chemical supplier to the automotive industry with unparalleled customer access and market knowledge
  • Strong technology and intellectual property position in cathode active materials
  • One of the broadest cathode active material portfolios in the industry and a market leader in nickel-rich cathode active materials
  • Strong market presence with operations in all regions. Research and development sites and expert scientists around the world located close to our customers
  • Decades of collaboration with various strategic partners including customers and academia
  • Commitment to sustainable development and a responsible global supply chain
E-mobility

E-mobility

BASF, The world's leading chemical supplier to the automotive industry, is announcing its commitment to help to improve air quality and make electromobility a practical reality for everyone.

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Cathode Active Materials

Cathode Active Materials

BASF’s portfolio of application-specific cathode active materials supports lithium-ion battery technology for electrified vehicles with high energy density, safety and efficiency.

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Next Generation Battery Systems

Next Generation Battery Systems

In addition to optimizing existing cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries, BASF is also researching next generation battery concepts and supplements its in-house capabilities by collaborating with leading scientists, start-ups and universities around the globe.

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Sustainability

Sustainability

Electromobility is one of the key solutions to merge the global desire for individual mobility and the need to significantly reduce local emissions, especially in combination with renewable energy. As a global leading supplier of battery materials for lithium-ion batteries, we aim to contribute to sustainable battery materials value chain and make electromobility a practical reality for everyone.

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Licensing Agreements

Licensing Agreements

BASF is the only licensee of Argonne National Laboratory’s prominent NCM cathode active materials patents with the ability to grant sub-licenses. BASF also establishes Nickel Metal Hydride battery licensing agreements and strategic alliances with companies worldwide.

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Global Footprint

Global Footprint

BASF is a strong player in the battery materials market and runs pilot and production plants in all major regions.

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