UK specialty chemical and technology company Johnson Matthey has signed a patent license agreement with 3M to further expand the use of nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries used in cars. The cathode compositions of nickel, manganese and cobalt are said to offer a balance of power, energy, thermal stability and cost to the lithium-ion battery manufacturers. The materials can also be tailored to optimize performance in both micro-hybrid systems and fully electric vehicles.

“The rapid growth of the electric vehicle market is driving the need for NMC-based cathode materials globally and especially in China,” said Christian Milker, global business manager for 3M’s Electronic Materials Solutions division. He added that the agreement with Johnson Matthey would help to accelerate the adoption of NMC technology worldwide.

The agreement gives Johnson Matthey a license to use five of 3M’s US patents - US6964828, US7078128, US8241791, US8685565 and US6660432 – and all their global equivalents. Johnson Matthey’s director of Battery Materials, Neil Collins, said the company was looking forward to applying its skills in nickel chemistry and in the scale-up and manufacture of battery materials as it develops customized, commercial products.