Lithium Battery Copper Foil Has Enormous Potential Amid EV Boom

At the CLNB 2025 (10th) New Energy Industry Chain Expo - Battery Auxiliary Materials Forum hosted by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (SMM), Dr. Shengxian Wang from Shenzhen Londian Wason Technology Co., Ltd. discussed the topic of "Application of High-End Lithium Battery Copper Foil in the New Energy Industry".

Core Product: High-Precision Electrolytic Copper Foil

High-precision electrolytic copper foil is produced by dissolving copper with a purity of over 99.9% through chemical reactions to form a copper sulphate solution, which, under electrolysis, yields a foil-like product on the surface of a cathode roller. Depending on the application, it can be classified into lithium battery copper foil and circuit board copper foil, used respectively in the anode current collector of lithium-ion batteries and the manufacturing of electronic circuits. The thickness of lithium battery copper foil directly affects the energy density of lithium batteries. Compared to 8μm lithium battery copper foil, lithium batteries produced with 6μm and 4μm lithium battery copper foil can increase energy density by approximately 5%-11%. The thickness and performance of lithium battery copper foil are of great significance to the driving range of NEVs.

Copper Foil: Ultra-thin lithium battery copper foil has a thickness of less than 6 microns (1 micron is approximately 1/60th the diameter of a human hair).

Production Process of Electrolytic Copper Foil: Solution Preparation ⇒ Raw Foil Production ⇒ Surface Treatment ⇒ Slitting

Application Areas of Electrolytic Copper Foil

Application of Electrolytic Copper Foil in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Copper foil can serve as the anode current collector in lithium batteries, accounting for 10% of the cost in battery cells.

Impact of Electrolytic Copper Foil Quality on Battery Characteristics

NEVs have become an unshakable trend.

Lithium-ion batteries and corresponding lithium battery copper foil are experiencing rapid growth.

Public data shows that the shipments of lithium batteries across various terminals in China are expected to reach approximately 1,334 GWh in 2025, around 1,622 GWh in 2026, and approximately 1,911 GWh in 2027.

By category, power batteries are expected to have the fastest growth and the highest proportion in shipments, followed by ESS batteries.

Moreover, China has become a major supplier of copper foil, with the lithium battery copper foil industry growing into a hundred-billion-yuan sector.

New National Standard for "Safety Requirements for Traction Batteries for Electric Vehicles" (Effective from July 1, 2026)

The new national standard imposes higher technical requirements on current collectors.

Value Chain and Industry Characteristics of Lithium Battery Copper Foil

Industry Chain: The copper foil industry chain is relatively short, with a significant proportion of raw materials.

Market Structure: The industry is fragmented with low market concentration.

Capital Intensity: Copper foil enterprises are characterized by high capital intensity and high fixed investment per unit.

Process: Control of the production process and additive formulations are key technical aspects.

Demand Side: Rapid development of new energy, with robust demand for power and ESS batteries.

Supply Side: Overcapacity, delayed construction of new capacity, and accelerated industry consolidation.

Technical Requirements for Copper Semis Used in Electrolytic Copper Foil

Technical Specifications for National Standard #1 Copper Cathode

1. 0# Copper Cathode: Copper content ≥ 99.99%, with extremely high purity.

2. #1 Copper Cathode: Copper content of 99.95%.

3. #2 Copper Cathode: Copper content of 92%-93%.

4. Imported Copper: Registered vs. Non-Registered:

Technical Requirements of Electrolyte on Copper Material in Copper Foil Production: Copper purity, lead content, iron content, etc.

Different copper dissolution methods have different requirements for copper semis: copper plates, 8mm rods, and 2.6-3.5mm rods.

Future Requirements for Copper Material in High-Performance Electrolytic Copper Foil

Future Technical Requirements for Electrolytic Copper Semis

Purity: Essential for electrical conductivity and the production of high-end copper foil.

Impurity Content: Critical for the deactivation of additives during copper foil production and has a fatal impact on the quality stability of high-end foil.

Efficient Copper Dissolution Methods: The shape of copper semis determines production efficiency and improves process adaptability.

ESG Management Strategies for Copper Foil Manufacturing

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