Sumitomo Metal Mining and Toyota Collaborate to Mass-Produce Cathode Materials for Solid-State Batteries

All-solid-state batteries are primarily composed of positive and negative electrodes and a solid electrolyte, and are next-generation batteries with the potential to be smaller, have higher output, and have a longer lifespan than the currently mainstream liquid batteries that use electrolytes. When installed in BEVs, they are expected to offer improved performance, including an increased driving range, shorter charging times, and higher output, and Toyota aims to commercialize them in 2027-2028.

The two companies have been conducting joint research on cathode materials for solid-state batteries since around 2021, with one of the research themes being the degradation of cathode materials during repeated charging and discharging. As a solution, the two companies have jointly developed a new “highly durable cathode material” suited to solid-state batteries, utilizing Sumitomo Metal Mining’s unique powder synthesis technology. Sumitomo Metal Mining will utilize its knowledge gained from providing cathode materials for many electric vehicles over the past 20 years, aiming to supply the newly developed cathode material and subsequently mass-produce it.

The two companies will continue to advance development in a wide range of areas, including improving performance, quality, and safety, as well as reducing costs, in order to mass-produce cathode materials for solid-state batteries, and will take on the challenge of commercializing solid-state batteries for the first time in BEVs. Through this technology, they will change the future of automobiles and contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society.