Graphite electrodes have shown significant application opportunities in the new energy field, such as sodium-ion batteries and solid-state batteries. Their stable physical and chemical properties and layered structure provide key support for battery performance improvement. Meanwhile, they can enhance safety in solid-state batteries and expand application space through technological improvements in sodium-ion batteries.
I. Solid-state Batteries: The stability and safety advantages of graphite as the anode material
Layered structure inhibits the formation of lithium dendrites
The layered crystal structure of graphite can effectively guide the uniform intercalation and deintercalation of lithium ions, avoiding the short-circuit risk caused by dendrites penetrating the separator, and significantly improving the safety performance of solid-state batteries. This characteristic makes graphite one of the preferred solutions for anode materials in solid-state batteries.
Chemical stability ADAPTS to extreme environments
Solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes instead of liquid electrolytes, offering a wider operating temperature range and higher voltage. Graphite can maintain structural stability in high-temperature and high-pressure environments, ensuring the long-term cycle life of batteries and meeting the strict reliability requirements of energy storage systems.
Potential for technological iteration
By improving the preparation process (such as nanorization and surface coating), the energy density and charge-discharge efficiency of graphite anodes can be further enhanced. For instance, silicon-carbon anodes compounded with silicon-based materials have achieved mass production, with a specific capacity 3 to 5 times higher than that of traditional graphite, thus becoming an important direction for high-energy-density solutions in solid-state batteries.
Ii. Sodium-ion Batteries: Technological Breakthroughs and Cost Advantages of Graphite Anodes
Innovation in the sodium ion intercalation mechanism
The traditional view holds that the interlayer spacing of graphite (approximately 0.335nm) cannot accommodate sodium ions (with a diameter of 0.36nm), but recent studies have achieved reversible intercalation of sodium ions by expanding the interlayer spacing of graphite through ball milling or by using sodium-oxide compounds to form block reactions. This breakthrough has opened up a new path for the application of graphite in sodium-ion batteries.
Cost and resource advantages
The world is rich in graphite reserves and widely distributed. China accounts for over 60% of the global production capacity, and the cost of raw materials is significantly lower than that of lithium resources. If sodium-ion batteries adopt graphite anodes, it can further reduce battery costs and accelerate their commercialization process in fields such as energy storage and low-speed electric vehicles.
Synergistic application with hard carbon materials
Hard carbon has become the mainstream anode material for sodium-ion batteries due to its disordered structure and large interlayer spacing, but it has the problems of low initial efficiency and high cost. The combination of graphite and hard carbon can balance performance and cost. For instance, the asphalt-coated hard carbon technology provides a better anode option for sodium-ion batteries by enhancing electrical conductivity, reducing internal resistance, and improving cycle stability.
Iii. Market Drivers and Industrial Layout
The demand for new energy has seen explosive growth
The global sales of new energy vehicles have been continuously rising, and the demand for long-life and low-cost batteries in energy storage systems has soared, driving the expansion of the market for lithium-ion battery anode materials. The global output of anode materials is expected to reach 2.625 million tons in 2025, among which graphite accounts for over 98%, becoming a core material in the new energy field.
Enterprise technological reserves and capacity expansion
Shanshan Co., Ltd. is promoting the mass production of silicon-based materials. Hard carbon anodes are widely used in lithium batteries, sodium-ion batteries and semi-solid batteries. The built production capacity is 1,000 tons and the under-construction capacity is 40,000 tons.
Yicheng New Energy: Relying on the group’s advantages in hydrogen, carbon and silicon resources, it has built an industrial system of “high-end carbon materials + source-grid-load-storage integration”. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kaifeng Carbon, has a domestic market share of over 30% for its leading product, UHPΦ 600-700mm graphite electrodes, firmly holding the top position in the industry.
Catl and BTR: Jointly develop high-density graphite anode materials to enhance battery energy density and cycle life, and consolidate their leading position in technology.
Policies and standards lead industrial upgrading
China has issued policy documents such as the “Regulatory Conditions for the Graphite Industry” and the “Development Plan for the New Energy Vehicle Industry”, promoting the transformation of the industry towards high-end, intelligent and green development. Enterprises enhance their technological discourse power and market competitiveness through full-chain integration (such as laying out self-production capacity of needle coke) and participation in the formulation of international standards (such as ISO graphite electrode testing standards).
Iv. Future Trends and Challenges
Technological integration and innovation
The collaborative research and development of graphene and electrode materials, as well as the interface optimization between solid electrolytes and graphite anodes, will become the key to breaking through the energy density bottleneck. For instance, graphene-based batteries can enhance the driving range and meet the demands of high-end electric vehicles.
Environmental protection and sustainable development
The recovery rate of graphite dust needs to be raised to 99.9%, and the calcination waste heat power generation technology can recover 35% of the energy consumption. Enterprises need to build a closed-loop system of “production – recycling – regeneration” to cope with international environmental protection standards such as the EU carbon tariff.
Expansion of emerging markets
Through the “Belt and Road Initiative”, Chinese graphite enterprises have exported their technologies to Southeast Asia, Africa and other regions, and established localized production bases to avoid trade barriers. For instance, a production base for graphite anode materials is being built in Malaysia to meet the local demand for new energy vehicles.
Post time: Aug-22-2025