Orion collaborates with HiQ-CARB Consortium on Li-ion battery production

Orion Engineered Carbons has joined the EU-funded HiQ-CARB consortium to provide the lithium-ion battery industry with sustainable and high-performance carbon additives. The HiQ-CARB consortium represents a collaboration among seven leading European industry players, research institutes, and universities tasked with the development, design, and scale-up of innovative battery materials. Other consortium participants include leading materials producer Arkema, cell producer Customcells, Fraunhofer ISC, Aalto University in Finland, and the University of Bordeaux. The ultimate goal is one of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 in order to address climate change. Orion’s acetylene black is considered a key component of this strategy as it has the lowest carbon footprint of conductive materials on the market. Lithium-ion batteries are used for e-mobility (electrification of vehicles), renewable energy storage, in portable electronic devices, and a wide range of other applications where renewable energy supplies are critical.

According to Orion,

Orion acetylene black offers conductive functionalities that improve lithium-ion battery performance. Acetylene black aggregates form a three-dimensional network to lower the internal resistance of battery cells by enhancing conductivity, ensuring that charge and discharge processes are performed effectively and Ohmic losses are minimized. Its high intrinsic electronic conductivity and purity compared to other carbon blacks leads to significantly higher power densities and longer battery lifecycle. In addition, the acetylene black functional structure produces synergistic benefits with other additives, such as carbon nanotubes, in lithium-ion battery systems.