1. As a key manganese source for positive electrode materials
Manganese tetraoxide (Mn₃O₄) has become the main manganese source for new manganese-based positive electrode materials due to its unique spinel structure and chemical stability:
Lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP): Manganese tetraoxide has gradually become a mainstream manganese source due to its low cost, strong process adaptability (suitable for di-sintering process) and performance advantages (gram capacity 140-155mAh/g, excellent cycle performance), and is adopted by leading companies such as Hengchuang Nano and Rongbais Scholland.
High voltage lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNMO): Spinel-type lithium nickel manganese oxide synthesized with manganese tetraoxide and nickel oxide as raw materials has a high voltage platform (gram capacity of 135mAh/g) and long cycle life (1500-week capacity retention rate>80%).
Lithium manganese oxide (LMO): Some companies try to use manganese tetraoxide instead of electrolytic manganese dioxide to improve cost performance and compaction density.
2. High-safety applications in solid-state batteries
Sinosteel Tianyuan's high-purity battery-grade manganese tetraoxide can achieve the "highest safety without fire" standard for solid-state batteries by reducing impurity side reactions and enhancing high-temperature stability. Its spinel structure can maintain structural stability during battery charging and discharging.
Although manganese tetraoxide is not the only choice for solid-state batteries (others such as lithium cobalt oxide and lithium iron phosphate can also be used), its ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability make it one of the important candidate materials.
3. Expanded applications in other battery fields
Ternary battery materials: used as a manganese source for the modification of lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM) positive electrodes.
Supercapacitors and nickel-zinc batteries: Manganese tetraoxide also has application potential in these fields due to its high specific capacity and cycle performance.
4. Industry chain role and market prospects
Manganese tetraoxide is mainly supplied to battery factories indirectly through positive electrode material manufacturers (such as Dangsheng Technology's supplier Sinosteel Tianyuan), rather than directly.
As the demand for new energy vehicles and energy storage grows, the market demand for battery-grade manganese dioxide will continue to expand, especially in emerging fields such as lithium iron manganese phosphate and solid-state batteries.
