Lithium battery anode materials have become a particularly hot product in the market, with prices soaring and supply falling short of demand. In 2021, total investment in this sector reached 85 billion yuan.

The ongoing research project on continuous graphitization of lithium-ion battery anode materials has achieved breakthrough progress after years of repeated verification and extensive experimentation with continuous graphitization of carbon additives. This technology offers particularly significant energy-saving and emission-reduction benefits in the field of anode materials, making it an excellent investment opportunity characterized by low capital input, rapid results, and high returns. Currently, this technology is at the world's leading edge, providing a solid technological foundation for the industry to open up new horizons. Once this technology is put into practical use, it will undoubtedly make substantial contributions to China’s development of new energy sources and to reducing carbon emissions.

1. Background

Under the "dual-carbon" framework, investment in new-energy vehicles, electric vehicles, and wind-solar-storage systems is accelerating, which in turn is boosting demand for new-energy lithium batteries. As a key material for these lithium batteries, negative-electrode materials are produced by high-temperature graphitization of carbon. Driven by rising demand, the output of negative-electrode materials—whose production relies on graphitization—continues to grow rapidly, with China leading the world in market share.

Graphitization refers to the process of transforming carbon atoms from a disordered, irregular arrangement into a regular, hexagonal planar network structure at high temperatures. The purpose of this process is to achieve graphite’s superior properties, such as high electrical conductivity, high thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance.

From a production standpoint, the manufacturing process for negative electrode materials is relatively lengthy—comprising more than 10 small processing steps. Among these, the key process for producing synthetic graphite negative electrode materials accounts for approximately 50% of the total cost of the negative electrode material. This stage also represents the area with the highest technological barriers, and the technical differences among various players are primarily reflected in this stage. Graphitization accounts for about 50% of the cost of synthetic graphite negative electrodes, and companies’ accumulated production experience is crucial in ensuring the quality of the graphitization process.

II. Processing Status of Graphite as a Negative Electrode Material for Outsourced Manufacturing

1. The crucible method involves large investments, high energy consumption, poor environmental performance, and high operating costs.

2. Box-type method: high investment, high energy consumption, poor environmental performance, and high operating costs;

Both methods involve batch production—each furnace is loaded and unloaded sequentially. For the graphitization of negative electrode materials, these two methods are typically employed, with graphitization processing often carried out in graphitization furnaces powered by graphite electrodes.

3. Continuous Graphitization Method

Continuous graphitization offers advantages in terms of cost, efficiency, and environmental friendliness, making it a new direction for industrial exploration and currently at the forefront of competition among industry leaders.

Continuous graphitization offers the following advantages:

1) Higher thermal energy utilization efficiency; 2) Reduced consumption of auxiliary materials—continuous processes virtually eliminate the need for auxiliary materials, whereas the Acheson process consumes approximately 4 tons of auxiliary materials per ton of product produced; 3) Centralized treatment of exhaust gases, making the process environmentally friendly. The continuous process is conducted in a closed system, with dedicated auxiliary equipment collecting and treating exhaust gases. In contrast, the Acheson process involves an open-smelting environment, making it impossible to effectively capture exhaust gases; 4) Very low carbon emissions—the continuous process emits only 25% of the carbon equivalent emissions generated by the Acheson process; 5) The continuous-process production model features continuous operations, with intermediate products never coming into contact with the ground, thereby significantly reducing labor costs and transportation and handling expenses.

The current industry situation makes it relatively difficult to achieve continuous graphite heating to temperatures above 2,800 degrees Celsius. Moreover, due to the closed nature of the production process, the vaporization of impurities can easily cause the furnace pressure to rise excessively. Currently, some companies are still in the process of experimenting with this approach.

Investment in negative electrode materials is substantial, and the construction period is long. There are also challenges related to high energy consumption, significant environmental protection difficulties, lengthy production processes, and high production costs.

Continuous Graphitization Technology:

The investment is 0.14 times that of the crucible method, and operating costs are just one-sixth. The land area required is one-fifth smaller, and the construction period is one-third shorter. It boasts excellent environmental performance, low costs, high quality, and consistent product quality.

The key is that energy consumption is only one-fourth to one-fifth of that of the crucible method, enabling energy savings and emission reductions, aligning with the nation’s overarching strategic goals, and leading the way in advanced technologies for both the national and global industries.

Three: Capital Influx

In the negative-electrode-material industry, graphiteization processing is often referred to as graphiteization OEM services. The graphiteization process accounts for 50% of the total cost of negative-electrode materials. Currently, with strong support from national policies, capital is pouring into negative-electrode-material projects, and this trend is in full swing.

Under the backdrop of dual energy consumption controls, whoever adopts a process route that consumes less energy and is more environmentally friendly—and whoever excels in graphiteization energy savings—will enjoy superior performance in terms of industry leadership, environmental protection, and product consistency. Such companies will deliver high-quality products, capture market share, reap substantial benefits, and achieve robust growth and development.