The Application of High-End Lithium Battery Copper Foil in the New Energy Industry, Its Thickness and Performance Are Crucial for the Driving Range of NEVs [New Energy Summit]

At the 2025 (10th) New Energy Industry Expo - Battery Auxiliary Materials Forum hosted by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., Dr. Shengxian Wang from Shenzhen Longdian Huaxin Technology Co., Ltd. discussed the topic of "Application of High-End Lithium Battery Copper Foil in the New Energy Industry." The core product, high-precision copper cathode foil, refers to the product formed by chemical reactions of copper with a purity of over 99.9% into a copper sulphate solution, which is then produced on the surface of a cathode roller under electrolysis. It can be divided into lithium battery copper foil and circuit board copper foil, used in the negative current collector of lithium-ion batteries and electronic circuit manufacturing, respectively. The thickness of lithium battery copper foil directly affects the energy density of lithium batteries. Compared to 8μm lithium battery copper foil, the energy density of lithium batteries produced with 6μm and 4μm lithium battery copper foil will increase by about 5% to 11%. The thickness and performance of lithium battery copper foil are significant for the driving range of new energy vehicles. Copper foil: ultra-thin lithium battery copper foil is less than 6 micrometers (1 micrometer is about 1/60 of the diameter of a hair). The production process of copper cathode foil: solution preparation ⇒ foil production ⇒ surface treatment ⇒ cutting. Application fields of copper cathode foil. Application of copper cathode foil in lithium-ion batteries. Copper foil can be used as the negative current collector in lithium batteries, accounting for 10% of the cost in the battery cell. The impact of copper cathode foil quality on battery characteristics. New energy vehicles have become an unshakable trend. Lithium-ion batteries and corresponding lithium battery copper foil are growing rapidly. Public data shows that the shipment of lithium batteries in various terminals in China is expected to reach about 1,334 GWh in 2025, about 1,622 GWh in 2026, and about 1,911 GWh in 2027. By category, the shipment of power batteries is expected to grow the fastest and account for the highest proportion, followed by ESS batteries. China has become the main supply source of copper foil, and lithium battery copper foil has grown into a 100 billion-level industry. The new national standard "Safety Requirements for Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles" (effective from July 1, 2026). The new national standard puts forward higher technical requirements for current collectors. The value chain and industry characteristics of lithium battery copper foil. Industry chain: the copper foil industry chain is short, with a large proportion of raw materials. Market structure: the industry structure is fragmented, with low market concentration. Heavy assets: copper foil enterprises are characterized by heavy assets, with high unit fixed investment. Process: production process control and additive formulation are key technologies. Demand side: rapid development of new energy, robust demand for power and ESS batteries. Supply side: overcapacity, delayed construction of new capacity, accelerated industry reshuffle. Technical requirements for copper materials used in copper cathode foil. Technical indicators of national standard #1 copper cathode. 1. #0 copper cathode: copper content ≥ 99.99%, extremely high purity. 2. #1 copper cathode: copper content is 99.95%. 3. #2 copper cathode: copper content is 92% - 93%. 4. Imported copper: registered copper: non-registered. Requirements for copper material indicators in copper foil production: copper purity, lead content, iron content. Different copper dissolution methods require different copper materials: copper plate, 8mm rod, 2.6~3.5mm rod. Future requirements for copper materials in high-performance copper cathode foil. Future technical requirements for copper cathode materials. Purity: conductivity, necessary for high-end copper foil production. Impurity content: crucial for the deactivation of additives in copper foil production, fatal to the quality stability of high-end foil. Efficient copper dissolution method: the shape of copper material determines production efficiency, improving process adaptability. ESG management strategy for copper foil manufacturing. Click to view the special report on the 2025 (10th) New Energy Industry Expo.