News Release
May 23, 2023
Proterial, Ltd.
(Formerly Hitachi Metals, Ltd.)

Developed a technology that reduces CO2 emissions during the productionof cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries by more than 20%
Proterial, Ltd., ("Proterial") has developed a technology (“the developed technology") to manufacture
cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries ("LIB[s]") without the previously required process of converting
nickel to nickel hydroxide(Ni(OH)2) to produce a precursor that is used as the starting material for themanufacture of cathode materials. The developed technology enables CO2 emissions during theproduction of cathode materials to be reduced by over 20% compared to the manufacturing method basedon the solid phase reaction method (announced in May 2022) that Proterial had developed (the"conventional manufacturing method"). By offering the developed technology to the battery industry as asolution for decarbonizing product lifecycles, Proterial will contribute to improving the environmental valueof LIBs.
1. BackgroundAs societies move towards decarbonization, the demand for LIBs—a crucial component of electric vehicles (EVs)which do not emit CO2 when running—is expected to grow rapidly. However, LIB manufacturing accounts for alarge proportion of CO2 emissions in the EV manufacturing process, with the largest share of CO2 coming from thestarting material*1 for cathode material (Figure 1). In particular, large amounts of CO2 are emitted in the process ofobtaining the precursor nickel hydroxide(Ni(OH)2) from nickel (Ni).
Furthermore, Europe plans to regulate CO2 emissions for EVs not only when they are running, but also throughout
their entire lifecycle. This will require the suppression of emissions during EV manufacturing, which includes theproduction of cathode material (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Trends in CO2 emissions regulations

Figure 1: Percentage of CO2 emissions*2

2. Outline
Aware that the number of starting material options can be increasedby using the solid phase reaction method*3—which allows the use ofmaterials other than water-soluble substances in the cathode material
manufacturing process (announced in May 2022)—Proterial worked
to develop a cathode material manufacturing technology that leads toreduced CO2 emissions. As a result, Proterial has successfully
developed a technology for producing cathode materials withcomparable electrochemical properties (see table) without going
through the process of producing the starting material where nickel
sulfate (NiSO4) is produced from metal nickel (Ni), and the precursorof nickel hydroxide(Ni(OH)2) is then produced from that (Figure 3).
With the developed technology, Proterial has succeeded in reducing

Proterial, Ltd.
Toyosu Prime Square, 5-6-36 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0061, Japanwww.proterial.com
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Photo: Cathode material for LIBs

CO2 emissions from the starting material by more than 30% compared to the conventional manufacturing method (Figure4). This is equivalent to a 20% or greater reduction in CO2 emissions over the entire cathode material manufacturing
process*4, including the production of starting materials.
Going forward, the developed technology will be applied as a decarbonization solution over product lifecycles forcustomers involved in the mass production of cathode materials and LIB development. This technology will be exhibitedat The Battery Show Europe to be held in Stuttgart, Germany from May 23.

Fig. 3: Manufacturing Method

Table: Electrochemical Properties
Solid-phase reaction method
The developed technology (no precursor production)

Discharge capacity (Ah/kg)
192

Capacity retention (%)
90

Conventional manufacturing method

190

88

Composition: LiNi0.85Co0.03(Mn(0.12-a)Xa)O2
Discharge capacity measurement conditions: 4.3-2.5V, 0.2C (25°C), Anode: Li metal

CO2 emissions from starting
materials 1)(relative ratio)

Cycle conditions: 4.3-2.5V, 1C (25°C), Anode: Li metal

1)

Ni,
Li2CO3

Conventional
manufacturing method2)2)

CO2 emissions from raw materials used in LiNiO2 production are
estimated using 100% yield conditions.
Values from the following database and literature are used for CO2
emissions intensity.
Ni, Li2CO3: LCI database IDEA version 2.3
Ni(OH)2 : Batteries 2019, 5, 48
May 19, 2022, Hitachi Metals, Ltd. News Release
Developed cathode material technology for lithium-ion batteries thatreduces greenhouse gas emissions.

The developed technology(no precursor production)

Fig. 4: CO2 emissions from starting materials

Contact for press: Corporate Communications Dept., Proterial, Ltd.
e-mail: hmcc.sa@proterial.com

Proterial, Ltd.
Toyosu Prime Square, 5-6-36 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0061, Japanwww.proterial.com
2/3*1: Raw material that serves as the starting point for the first chemical reaction in the formation of a compound (the cathode material).
*2: Prepared by Proterial based on IEA Global EV Outlook 2020 and Sustainable Materials and Technologies 32 (2022) e00415.
*3: A manufacturing method based on powder metallurgy technology in which raw material powders containing the constituent elements lithium and metals arepulverized and mixed, granulated, and then sintered to cause them to react.
In contrast, the commonly used coprecipitation method does not involve pulverizing, mixing, or granulation, but instead chemically synthesizes metal hydroxide
particles called precursors, which are then mixed with lithium raw material powder and sintered.
*4: The sum of CO2 emissions from starting materials and CO2 emissions from the cathode material manufacturing process.

■About the new trade name PROTERIAL
Hitachi Metals, Ltd. changed its trade name to Proterial, Ltd. on January 4, 2023.

“Proterial” reflects the essence of our corporate philosophy, which consists of three elements: Mission: “Makethe best quality available to everyone;” Vision: “Leading sustainability by high performance;” and Values:“Unfaltering integrity” and “United by respect.” It combines “pro-” with the word “material.”“Pro-” represents our “three pros”:
Professional — work that exceeds expectations

Progressive — a spirit that keeps challenging

Proactive —an enterprising attitude“Material” refers to the high-performance materials that our original technologies produce and underpinned by
the three pros. With our focus on solving customer issues and bringing new levels of value, we promise tocontribute to the realization of a sustainable society through the products and services that embody ourphilosophy.

■Movie introducing "PROTERIAL”
https://youtu.be/Q0MKdTh3ofI
Click here for movie

Proterial, Ltd.
Toyosu Prime Square, 5-6-36 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0061, Japanwww.proterial.com
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