Great interest in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technology for rechargeable batteries

LiFePO4+C Licensing AG in Muttenz (Switzerland) has closed a sublicensing agreement granting to BASF rights to use key patents for the production and marketing of lithium metal phosphates (LMPs), and in particular lithium iron phosphate (LFP). LMP/LFP is an innovative cathode material whose excellent performance and superior safety profile make it the ideal choice, particularly for lithium ion batteries used in stationary applications and in the automotive industry.

The three patent holders, Hydro-Québec (Canada), Université de Montréal (Canada) and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS - France), in association with Clariant subsidiary Süd-Chemie, reached an agreement in 2011 to grant a limited number of sublicenses in this technology through LiFePO4+C Licensing AG in order to address rapidly growing demand for reliable and authorized sources of LFP from battery producers and auto makers.

A licensing agreement for the manufacturing and sale of LMP/LFP exists between the patent holders and Süd-Chemie which has its own industrial LFP producing operations. There are also sublicense agreements between LiFePO4+C Licensing AG and two Japanese firms, Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co. Ltd. and Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. as well as with two Taiwanese companies, Tatung Fine Chemicals Co. and Advanced Lithium Electrochemistry (Cayman) Co. Ltd (ALEEES). Japan’s Sony Corporation and the American corporation A123 Systems Inc. both hold licenses to manufacture LMP/LFP for use in its own battery production.

The BASF decision to opt for LMP/LFP technology lends additional impetus to the swift and widespread market penetration of LMP/LFP materials.