As a substitute for LiPF6, lithium trifluoromethanesulfonyl imide (LiTFSI) has broad market space

Lithium trifluoromethanesulfonyl imide (LiTFSI), also known as lithium bistrifluoromethanesulfonyl imide, has a chemical formula of C2F6LiNO4S2 and is an organic compound. LiTFSI appears as white crystals or powder and is slightly soluble in water. It has the advantages of high temperature resistance, high optical properties, high conductivity and good electrochemical stability. It is widely used in reaction catalysts, lithium batteries, ionic liquids and other products.

​ ​Thionyl chloride, also known as thionyl chloride, is a key raw material for the production of LiTFSI. As a chlorinating agent, thionyl chloride has the advantages of strong spectral pattern, good safety, and high activity. It is widely used in lithium batteries, dyes, pesticides and other fields. The main manufacturers of sulfoxide chloride in my country include Kaisheng New Materials, Xinlong Technology, Jinhe Industrial, Lee & Man Chemical, etc. In 2022, my country’s thionyl chloride production capacity will reach 550,000 tons, ranking first in the world. The advantages of raw materials provide favorable conditions for the development of my country’s LiTFSI industry.

The lithium battery field is the largest demand side for LiTFSI. LiTFSI has extremely high conductivity at low temperatures and can be used as an organic electrolyte lithium salt for lithium batteries. As the demand for purchasing new energy vehicles grows, the development of my country’s lithium battery industry is accelerating. According to statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, my country’s lithium-ion battery production will reach 750GWh in 2022, a year-on-year increase of more than 130%. Traditional lithium batteries mostly use lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) as the electrolyte lithium salt, which has shortcomings such as easy hydrolysis and poor thermal stability. As a substitute for LiPF6, LiTFSI has gained broad market space in the lithium battery field with its performance advantages.

According to the “2023-2028 China Lithium Trifluoromethanesulfonimide (LiTFSI) Industry Market In-depth Research and Development Prospects Forecast Report released by the Industrial Research Center >》shows that in the global market, the Asia-Pacific region is the largest consumer market for LiTFSI, accounting for nearly 80%. As the prosperity of the LiTFSI industry continues to improve, its market size has further expanded. The global LiTFSI market size will reach US$190 million in 2022. At present, well-known manufacturers of LiTFSI in the world include 3M Company of the United States, Solvay Group of Belgium, etc.

There are only a small number of companies with LiTFSI production capabilities in my country, mainly including Tianci Materials, Jiangsu Cathay, Zhongxin Fluorine Materials, Parite Gas, etc. In the early stages of industry development, LiTFSI production costs were high, resulting in low market penetration. In recent years, thanks to continuous breakthroughs in production technology, the market price of LiTFSI in my country has declined, which will attract more battery manufacturers to lay out R&D and production tracks in the future. As a representative company of LiTFSI in my country, Jiangsu Cathay has successfully produced solid-state lithium-ion batteries using LiTFSI.

Industry analysts said that LiTFSI, as a new lithium salt, has the advantages of high conductivity and good electrochemical stability. It is widely used in lithium batteries. The field has broad application prospects. Benefiting from the sufficient supply of raw materials and the continuous improvement of technology level, my country’s LiTFSI production costs have declined, and its market penetration is expected to further increase in the future. As the prosperity of the LiTFSI industry increases, the number of related companies in my country has increased, and the market competition will become increasingly fierce.