Sumitomo Rubber sets up sulphur-based battery research group

Hyogo, Japan – Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) and Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology have set up a joint venture to study the production of sulphur-based batteries.

The JV, called Adeka Co., has been established with a view to creating a business in sulphur-based batteries, which SRI said are expected to be “the next generation of batteries”.

“We are leveraging our knowledge of sulphur, which is essential for tire manufacturing, to develop technology for sulphur-based cathode active materials,” said SRI in a 1 April statement.

Sulphur-based cathodes are an important component of lithium-sulphur batteries, SRI added, noting that the group expects to further accelerate the development of such batteries through the research group.

According to the Japanese group, lithium-sulphur batteries are one of the “promising” next-generation options that can help to increase energy storage.

They have “a higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries, so they can improve battery performance and be lighter,” it added.

The batteries’ structure also makes them less likely to catch fire, according to SRI.

In terms of sustainability, the batteries do not use rare earth metals such as cobalt and use sulphur, which SRI said is “abundant in Japan”.

As a result, the products will be “superior from a sustainability perspective, and are safe, low-cost, and high-performance.”

SRI expects to use its “excellent formulation, processing, and visualisation technologies” related to sulphur, which it is has gained through its tire manufacturing processes.

The group said it will accelerate the technological development and practical application of sulphur-based cathode active materials in the future for use in energy and mobility fields.

These will include storage batteries, EVs, drones, unmanned aircraft and satellites.