As application scenarios become more diversified, batteries emerging from different technological pathways to dominate niche markets have become an effective strategy for battery companies amidst an environment of structural overcapacity. The momentum for the development of sodium-ion batteries originated during the surge in lithium carbonate prices, with continuous exploration and breakthroughs in multiple technological pathways and industrialization processes. However, as lithium carbonate prices rapidly normalize, the development of sodium batteries is still in the early stages of industrialization, and companies within the industry chain are beginning to face challenges such as capital withdrawal, technological breakthroughs, expansion of application scenarios, and sustainable development.
The good news is that sodium batteries have already seen market opportunities in application scenarios requiring low-temperature performance and high-rate capabilities. Beyond applications in two-wheeled vehicles, sodium batteries are also making their presence known in scenarios requiring high battery rate capabilities, such as in data centers, starting power sources, and forklifts.
Notably, sodium battery companies that adopt self-developed core materials and integrated layout strategies are leading in the industrialization process. DuPont-Du has been particularly noteworthy in this process. It is one of the early companies to work on sodium-ion battery materials and gradually form an integrated industrial layout.
The development logic of the company’s sodium batteries follows a "three-chain integration" philosophy, from the customer end, to the cell end, to the material end. Based on fluoride and lithium battery material technology, DuPont-Du began laying the groundwork for research and pilot development of sodium hexafluorophosphate as early as 2017; in 2018, it completed the construction of a production line for sodium hexafluorophosphate to meet mass production needs; in 2019, the company's sodium hexafluorophosphate products were successfully applied in bulk by downstream sodium battery customers, becoming one of the early companies to achieve commercial mass production of sodium battery electrolytes. In 2020, DuPont-Du started pilot development of positive and negative materials for sodium batteries and established a pilot production line; by 2022, matching the company's independently developed material system, the company's large cylindrical sodium-ion batteries met the conditions for mass production and were the first to complete winter standard testing in Heilongjiang. Data shows that under extreme cold and high temperature conditions, the company's series of sodium-ion battery tests performed well. Meanwhile, the company also successfully mastered the engineering technology to quickly switch from lithium hexafluorophosphate production lines to sodium hexafluorophosphate production lines, allowing for capacity adjustments based on market demand. In June 2023, DuPont-Du won the bid for the China Tower Corporation’s 2023 project for 48V sodium-ion battery cells, key materials, and technology research and development.
In July 2023, DuPont-Du's 2GWh power-type sodium-ion battery project in Jiaozuo City was approved, with a total investment of about 560 million yuan. Despite the continuous pace of industrialization, due to the ever-changing competition in the new energy field, DuPont-Du is also actively adjusting its business strategy.
In February of this year, DuPont-Du stated on an interactive platform that the current fluctuations in lithium carbonate prices have weakened the cost advantage of sodium-ion batteries, leading the company to slow down the pace of commercial production, but research and development and cost reduction efforts are still being vigorously pursued. As stated, in March, DuPont-Du obtained a new patent authorization related to sodium-ion batteries, named "Precursor for Sodium-Ion Battery Positive Electrode Material and Its Preparation Method, Preparation Method for Sodium-Ion Battery Positive Electrode Material."
The patent reveals that, compared to existing technologies, the sodium-ion battery positive electrode material precursor provided by this invention features a loose porous structure with good uniformity in particle size, resulting in assembled batteries with higher specific capacitance, initial coulombic efficiency, and cycling stability, as well as improved safety performance. Also in March, the China Tower Corporation’s business platform announced that DuPont-Du became the sole source supplier for the "China Tower 2024 Project for Low-Temperature Sodium-Ion Battery Product Technology Research and Development." It is evident that in the trend of emerging battery technologies and new products, while some companies chase trends and hot topics, others build their capabilities steadily, waiting for the right opportunity. Clearly, DuPont-Du belongs to the latter category.