From electric vehicles to consumer electronics, lithium-ion batteries are one of the most popular battery chemistries on the market today, providing high energy density and long lifespans. IDTechEx's portfolio of Advanced Materials & Critical Minerals Research Reports and Subscriptions is home to the latest research into additives for lithium-ion batteries and the origins of lithium in extraction processes.
The role of Li-ion battery additives
Additives within Li-ion batteries can enhance their performance and allow proper function in their various applications. IDTechEx outlines additive materials as anything outside of a major cell component that is present in a less than 10% composition. Some of the most common additives include binders, conductive additives, electrolyte additives, and foil coatings, with each playing a vital role in the wider battery makeup.
The rise of battery electric vehicles will be a large driver for additive demand, with binders in particular being integral to the structure of electrodes. While some manufacturers are aiming to reduce the number of additives included within Li-ion batteries to reduce overall material consumption, electrolyte additives are being increasingly chosen for their ability to optimize cell performance.
There is discussion surrounding the PFAS present in many battery additive materials, including binders and electrolytes, as the subsequent negative environmental impacts are problematic in the long term, meaning regulations are becoming increasingly likely. Developments in non-PFAS additives, however, are outlined by IDTechEx as being increasingly common, and potentially able to shake up the additive landscape as it exists today to prevent further health or environmental implications.
IDTechEx's report, "Additives for Li-ion Batteries & PFAS-Free Batteries 2026-2036: Technologies, Players, Forecasts", forecasts the global additive market to exceed US$18 billion by 2036, with the material demand for Li-ion battery additives expected to surpass 1.9 megatonnes per year.
The origins of lithium from extraction
The demand for lithium has grown quickly in recent years as a result of rising demand for electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems, meaning methods to recover the metal are receiving increased attention. IDTechEx's report, "Direct Lithium Extraction 2026-2036: Technologies, Players, Forecasts", covers a broad range of methodologies for extracting lithium, from tradition brine evaporation processes and hard rock mining, to direct lithium extraction (DLE).
The hype surrounding DLE has come about as a result of the possibilities for lithium extraction to be more selective without the need for evaporation, which can take up to two years before a final product is achieved. According to IDTechEx's research, DLE can produce results in as little as a few hours, while also being a more sustainable option, resulting in over 80% lithium recovery without the need for excessive land and water usage.
Multiple types of DLE are outlined within IDTechEx's report, including adsorption, ion exchange, solvent extraction, membrane, electrochemical, and chemical precipitation. Adsorption processes are described as being the most mature, with commercial operations already up and running in Argentina and China, with the US also expected to be a major player by 2036. Other drivers for the development of DLE include the possibility for faster and more localized lithium production, as well as better responses to lithium price volatility and the adoption of low-cost technologies in order to see profits when prices are lower.
IDTechEx predicts the global lithium market to sit at US$52 billion by 2036, with the DLE market expected to make up 30% of the total sector at a market value of US$16 billion in the same year.
For more information, visit IDTechEx's portfolio of Advanced Materials & Critical Minerals Research Reports and Subscriptions, for the latest research into Li-ion battery materials and other advanced materials used across a number of sectors.
