Ganfeng Lithium has achieved the capability to mass-produce lithium sulfide, a key raw material for solid-state batteries
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On April 7, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Industry Group Co., Ltd. reported that at this critical stage in the development of the new energy industry, where higher energy density, greater safety, and operation over a wider temperature range are essential goals, solid-state battery technology has become a strategic priority. As a leading lithium industry enterprise, Ganfeng Lithium has established a comprehensive coverage of the entire solid-state battery value chain. It possesses the research and development as well as manufacturing capabilities for key components of solid-state batteries, including sulfide electrolytes and raw materials, oxide electrolytes, lithium metal anodes, battery cells, and battery systems, and has already achieved commercial applications. It is the only company in the industry with integrated capabilities across all stages of solid-state battery production.
Lithium sulfide enters mass production, completing the final link in the solid-state battery ecosystem. Sulfide solid electrolytes are currently the inorganic solid electrolyte materials with the highest ionic conductivity; they boast advantages such as good thermal stability, a wide electrochemical window, and excellent mechanical properties, making them the preferred type of electrolyte for all-solid-state batteries. In the production of sulfide solid electrolytes, lithium sulfide is regarded as one of the key raw materials, but its large-scale application often faces challenges such as high processing costs and complex manufacturing processes. Ye Ming, head of the R&D department at Ganfeng Lithium, noted that the synthesis process of lithium sulfide involves various technical challenges such as high temperatures and the use of inert gases; these factors place high demands on both the environment and the equipment. Additionally, solid electrolytes can undergo chemical side reactions with the battery’s positive and negative electrodes, resulting in reduced interface stability. Through proactive technological investment and seamless coordination across its entire business chain, Ganfeng Lithium acquired the capability to produce battery-grade lithium sulfide on a commercial scale as early as 2022, and further expanded its production facilities in 2024. Ganfeng Lithium’s lithium sulfide products have a purity of up to 99.9% with a D50 value of ≤5μm; they feature high purity, low impurity levels, and excellent consistency, meeting the technical requirements for high-conductivity solid electrolyte materials. To date, these products have been supplied to over 20 customers. In terms of research and development in lithium sulfide technology, the group has filed multiple patents related to lithium sulfide. The \"Industry Standard for Non-ferrous Metals of the People’s Republic of China: Battery-grade Lithium Sulfide\", drafted under the leadership of Ganfeng Lithium, is now in the pre-review stage, and it is expected to help bring battery-grade lithium sulfide into an era of standardization and regulation.
Ganfeng’s solid-state strategy: from raw materials to battery systems. At the electrolyte level, Ganfeng has invested many years in research and development in both sulfide and oxide approaches. Sulfide solid electrolytes in systems such as LPSC/LPS/LGPS can, through process optimization, produce sub-micron-grade ultra-fine sulfide electrolyte powders (D50