CLNB 2025 | How to Break Through in Lithium Battery Cathode Material Technology? Dr. Dongwei Yan Provides Key Answers

Amid the global wave of accelerating the transition to sustainable energy, the CLNB 2025 (10th) New Energy Industry Expo, hosted by SMM, was held with great enthusiasm at the Suzhou International Expo Center from April 16 to 18. At this annual grand event in the new energy sector, Dr. Dongwei Yan, President of the MGL New Materials Research Institute, was invited to deliver a keynote speech titled "Innovation Strategies and Development Progress in Lithium Battery Cathode Materials." He provided an in-depth analysis of technological breakthroughs and industrialisation pathways in the field of lithium battery cathode materials, engaging in discussions with industry giants, innovative enterprises, experts, scholars, and professional audiences from around the world on the latest breakthroughs and future trends in the new energy industry.

Focusing on Technical Pain Points, Proposing Innovative Strategies

In his speech, Dr. Yan pointed out that as the global energy structure accelerates its transition to low-carbon, the demand for power batteries and energy storage continues to rise. The performance optimisation and cost control of lithium battery cathode materials have become the core of industry competition. He highlighted that MGL New Materials adheres to a trinity innovation strategy of "product orientation, technological breakthroughs, and industrial collaboration." Through material system innovation, process innovation, and full life cycle management, MGL is driving the iteration of cathode materials towards high energy density, ultra-fast charging, high safety, and low cost.

In terms of technological innovation, MGL New Materials' products cover various material structures such as layered oxides, olivine, and spinel. The company adopts a forward development strategy, significantly enhancing the performance of cathode materials through integrated coating, precursor-free processes, and the combination of key material factor mechanisms.

Addressing the current mainstream technical routes such as ternary materials and LFP, Dr. Yan focused on analysing key technologies including material structure design, doping and coating modification, and high-entropy composite materials. He also shared MGL's breakthrough achievements in the R&D of advanced materials such as LCO, ultra-high nickel ternary, and lithium-rich manganese-based materials. He stated, "Material innovation must balance performance improvement with resource sustainability, cost-effectiveness, process compatibility, and long-term stability. By precisely controlling the microstructure of materials, we can achieve dual enhancement of technological and social value."

Showcasing Development Progress, Promoting Industrialisation

During his speech, Dr. Yan publicly disclosed for the first time several advancements in MGL's mass production process of new-type cathode materials. The ternary 9-series ultra-high nickel product, utilising technologies such as multi-stage sintering, short-range processing, and cobalt-rich coating dry cleaning, features high capacity, high compaction, low internal resistance, and long cycle life. The product has been successfully validated by leading customers, with its comprehensive performance ranking in the first tier. The NCA product, employing low DCR, high C-rate cycling, and high stability technologies, boasts high volumetric density, high power driving range, and high safety. It has been successfully applied and expanded in various emerging fields such as high-end power tools, humanoid robots, low-altitude manned aircraft, and uninterruptible power supplies. While advancing the R&D of existing products, MGL is also committed to driving revolutionary developments in the new energy battery industry, actively researching and strategically deploying forward-looking materials, including lithium-rich manganese-based materials, solid-state electrolytes, sodium-ion battery cathode materials, high-entropy composite materials, and lithium-rich lithium iron phosphate lithium supplement additives, all of which have achieved varying degrees of progress.

Additionally, he specifically mentioned MGL's deep collaboration cases with downstream battery companies and upstream resources, including shortening the technology transformation cycle through the "material-battery" joint development model and reducing reliance on primary ore through nickel-cobalt-lithium resource recycling technology. "From the laboratory to large-scale production, technological innovation must be deeply integrated with the industry chain," Dr. Yan emphasised.

Today, the competition in new energy materials has shifted from single performance indicators to systematic innovation and ecosystem construction. As an innovation leader in the new energy materials field, MGL New Materials will continue to delve into the core technology breakthroughs of battery materials, building new industrial competitive advantages with forward-looking technology layouts. We firmly believe that by strengthening the collaborative innovation system across the entire chain and deepening the concept of green and low-carbon development, we will inject strong momentum into the breakthrough of high energy density battery technology. In the future, the company will accelerate the transformation of technological achievements with a global perspective, driving the iteration and upgrading of new energy materials towards high safety, long life, and low cost, helping China continue to shape its core competitiveness in the global new energy race, providing hardcore technical support for achieving the "dual carbon" goals, and jointly mapping out the sustainable development blueprint of the clean energy era with industry peers.