Anode Materials Supplier – Quality Control for High-Energy-Density Soft-Pack Cells

1. Market Background

To reach higher energy density, soft-pack lithium battery manufacturers are increasingly adopting advanced anode materials such as modified graphite and silicon-carbon composites. For these materials:

• Carbon source purity and sulfur content are directly linked to initial coulombic efficiency and cycle life;

• Excess sulfur or uncontrolled impurities may trigger side reactions with the electrolyte;

• Precise impurity control is often required by top-tier cell makers and end customers.

Therefore, reliable carbon and sulfur testing has become a critical part of R&D and mass production for anode materials.

2. Customer & Application Scenario

The customer is a specialized anode materials supplier serving soft-pack cell manufacturers and energy storage companies. It faces several challenges:

• Rapid product development with heavy testing demand on the lab;

• Increasingly detailed carbon/sulfur specifications from key accounts;

• General-purpose elemental analyzers that are not optimized for new-generation anode materials.

At the forum in Changzhou, the customer saw the high-frequency infrared carbon and sulfur analyzer showcased by Wuxi Qianrong Instrument Co., Ltd., and recognized its potential for lithium anode applications.

3. Our Solution

Wuxi Qianrong Instrument Co., Ltd. designed a solution that supports both new product development and mass production quality control:

• Instrument & Method Setup

  • A high-frequency infrared carbon and sulfur analyzer configured for graphite, silicon-carbon composites and coated anode materials.

  • Development of dedicated calibration curves and methods for different anode material types.

• End-to-End Quality Control Flow

  • Raw material control: monitoring carbon/sulfur levels in key feedstocks.

  • Process monitoring: regular testing during coating, mixing and baking processes.

  • Finished product release: carbon/sulfur certificates provided for each batch of anode materials supplied to cell manufacturers.

• Data Integration & Reporting

  • Integration of carbon/sulfur results into the customer’s quality database.

  • Standardized reporting format to match the data requirements of major soft-pack cell customers.

4. Customer Feedback

After the analyzer was put into service, the customer summarized the benefits as follows:

1. More Controlled New Material Development

   • R&D teams gained a clearer picture of carbon/sulfur changes across different formulations and processes, which helped accelerate optimization of high-energy-density anode materials.

2. Stronger Communication with Downstream Cell Makers

   • For technical evaluations and qualification projects, the customer can now provide detailed, instrument-based carbon/sulfur data, reducing repeated verification and improving trust.

3. Upgraded Internal Quality Management

   • Carbon and sulfur stability is now a key internal quality indicator, supporting the company’s move into higher-end soft-pack cell projects.