OSAKA Titanium technologies Co., Ltd. (OTC) is today announcing the completion of a pilot plantfor SiO (Silicon Monoxide) Anode Material for LiBs (Lithium-ion Batteries), which OTC has been building since last year.
Using a proprietary manufacturing process that applies vacuum technology from titanium sponge smelting, OTC has been developing anode materials for batteries since the 1960s, utilising its knowledge of supplying high-quality SiO as an optical vapour deposition material and packaging film material.
Graphite-based (carbon-based) anode materials are the mainstream for LiB anodes, but SiO is considered to be a next-generation anode material with a theoretical capacity several times that of conventional graphite-based materials. Independent research has confirmed that our SiO anode material can be added to graphite to increase capacity by 20% or more. OTC is also on track to develop a mass production process for SiO anode material using its proprietary technology, and has now set up and started operating a pilot plant.
Producing anode materials in Japan is important not only for OTC, but also for the Japanese battery industry, and our SiO anode material business has been selected for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s “Subsidy for Promoting Domestic Investment for Supply Chain Measures.” OTC is determined to grow this business as a new business that will drive the transformation of our business portfolio.