Third-Generation Cathode Material LNMO Nears Mass Production and Application
Aug 05, 2025Third-Generation Cathode Material LNMO Nears Mass Production and Application
August 2025 – In recent years, the lithium battery industry has made continuous progress in the development of cathode materials. At the CIBF2023 Forum, Professor Huang Xuejie from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, categorized the evolution of cathode materials into three generations: the first generation being lithium manganese oxide (LMO), the second generation comprising lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and ternary materials, and the third generation featuring spinel-type lithium nickel manganese oxide (LiNi₀.₅Mn₁.₅O₄, or LNMO) and lithium nickel oxide.
Among these, LNMO is considered a leading candidate for next-generation cathode materials due to its high operating voltage, elevated energy density, and lower cost. It is viewed as a promising alternative to both LFP and ternary systems. Several leading battery companies, including CALB, BAK Battery, and SVOLT Energy, have expressed strong interest in LNMO and are actively engaged in R&D and technology reserves.
l Cobalt-Free and Cost-Effective: LNMO is cobalt-free and primarily composed of manganese. Its material cost is approximately 20% lower than LFP and 40% lower than ternary cathodes.
l High Energy Density: With a discharge platform as high as 4.5V (compared to 3.2V for LFP), LNMO offers a 22.5% increase in energy density per unit mass.
l Improved Lithium Utilization: LNMO boosts lithium resource utilization from about 70% (typical in ternary materials) to around 95%, significantly reducing lithium consumption.
l Superior Volumetric Energy Density: LNMO cells provide up to 50% higher volumetric energy density than LFP, making them ideal for applications with stringent volume constraints such as passenger EVs and energy storage systems.
Despite its advantages, LNMO's commercialization has long been hindered by technical challenges—namely, electrolyte instability under high voltage and capacity degradation caused by manganese dissolution. However, after 17 years of research, Professor Huang’s team has gradually overcome these bottlenecks.
According to public reports, the Songshan Lake Laboratory has already achieved a daily production capacity of 300kg of LNMO material. Moreover, LNMO/graphite soft-pack batteries developed at the lab have passed rigorous testing, demonstrating:
l Over 3,000 charge-discharge cycles with 97% capacity retention after 100 weeks
l 94.6% capacity retention at -20°C
l Fast charging: 32Ah soft-pack battery charges from 20% to 80% SOC in just 12 minutes
l Safety: 100Ah prismatic cell charged to 4.8V passed nail penetration test with no fire or explosion
In addition, the team has developed a comprehensive industrialization package, including high-voltage electrolyte formulations, aluminum foil surface treatments, and PVDF binder alternatives, accelerating the transition from lab-scale research to commercial viability.
Given the promising results and increasing industrial support, LNMO is now technically ready for large-scale deployment. Its performance advantages in cost, safety, and energy density make it an ideal candidate for power tools, energy storage systems, and electric vehicles.
With continued investments from both industry and academia, LNMO is expected to become the mainstream cathode material of the third generation, driving technological innovation and supporting the sustainable development of lithium battery resources.
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