SK On has developed a process for LFP battery cathodes that uses carbon nanotube powder instead of the more expensive CNT paste. The company says the powder version keeps the same performance while lowering material and logistics costs. The work won the grand prize at SK On's second Future Technology Institute conference in Daejeon, and SK On plans to test whether it can be applied to mass production. LFP batteries are cheaper and more thermally stable than NCM cells, but Chinese manufacturers currently lead the market on price. Cutting cathode costs is one way Korean battery makers can stay competitive as EV demand grows. The main technical risk is uniform dispersion of CNT powder, which is harder to achieve than with paste, so the real test is whether the process works on a production line. The article also covers work on large-area pouch-type lithium-metal batteries, a next-generation technology that could raise energy density. For anyone tracking battery costs and supply chains, this is a useful update on where SK On's research pipeline stands.
