Japanese ink and materials manufacturer Toyocolor has been tapped to supply its Lioaccum series of conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersions to the North American and European operations of battery-maker SK Innovation. 

Lioaccum dispersions are used as a conductive additive in Li-ion cathodes to help expand battery capacity. These batteries will be installed in EVs manufactured by the Volkswagen Group and Ford.

Toyocolor researchers in Japan successfully achieved high conductivity levels by replacing carbon black in the battery cathode with a small amount of Lioaccum CNT dispersions as the conductive additive. 

At present, Toyocolor is providing SK Innovation with Lioaccum dispersions produced by its sister company LioChem in Conyers, Georgia. Parent company Toyo Ink plans to invest approximately 10 billion yen to strengthen its global battery dispersions production network between now and 2026. The group hopes to develop this line into a core business with annual sales of 20 billion yen.

Source: Toyo Ink Group