As advanced electrification increases across many major sectors, including automotives and electronics, new trends and innovations are increasingly notable within the battery industry. IDTechEx's extensive research into the latest happenings can be found in their portfolio of Batteries & Energy Storage Research Reports, which explores the latest developments from additives and PFAS-free materials to battery pack sensors.
The role of binders, conductive additives, and electrolyte additives
Additives within a battery refer to materials that are included in the makeup in small quantities to allow it to perform as desired. These include binders that hold components together, conductive additives such as carbon black that can create effective conductive pathways, and electrolyte additives that can finetune overall performance.
The fast-growing Li-ion battery market is one of the largest drivers for battery additives demand, especially in line with the popularity of electric vehicles and decarbonization, and consumer electronics. IDTechEx notes that due to manufacturers wanting to limit the number of excess materials used within battery production, including additives, the market will continue to grow more slowly. However, the report, "Additives for Li-ion Batteries & PFAS-Free Batteries 2026-2036: Technologies, Players, Forecasts", predicts that the market for battery additives will be worth around US$18 billion by 2036, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 11.4%, highlighting their importance and critical role. The report also covers key materials in depth with analysis and benchmarking, and forecasts over the next decade.
The demand for binders in particular is a big contributor towards the overall demand for battery additives, and IDTechEx expects this demand to approach 740 kilotonnes by 2036. Binders are integral to the structural ability of electrodes, and a large trend within the industry currently is the discovery of non-PFAS binders to decrease the potentially harmful chemicals present within manufacturing processes, though many of these are still in developmental stages.
Carbon black is outlined as the incumbent conductive additive in the current market. However, the rise of carbon nanotubes and graphene can be expected as a result of their high-performing conductivity, their steadily decreasing costs per kilogram, and their capabilities at lower loadings. Electrolyte additives are also crucial to multiple functions within a battery cell. This particular sector is predicted to see demand accelerate, expected to stand at around 880 kilotonnes by 2036. Many electrolyte additives are PFAS chemicals, but their role in optimizing cell performance will keep them necessary within battery manufacturing for now. PFAS-free electrolytes are not yet available, and the performance of existing materials may be difficult to live up to, though these are also a hot topic in the industry and are picking up in interest.
Advancing battery pack sensor technologies
For optimal battery performance, sensors play a key role in ensuring safe and efficient battery usage. Thermal runaway is the main safety concern for battery packs in electric vehicles or energy storage systems. Hydrogen, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, pressure, moisture, humidity and aerosol presence, are all potential avenues for detection by advanced battery pack sensors, providing more extensive coverage than traditional sensors which measure voltage, current, and temperature.
Traditional sensors are unable to provide warnings early enough in a delayed thermal runaway instance, i.e. when cells vent after a controlled runaway event, but gas buildup in the pack leads to degradation and future combustion. Gas sensing is currently reported to be the most effective way to predict a thermal runaway event potentially occurring and is expected to maintain the most value within the market over the next ten years, though with other technologies such as pressure and aerosol sensors, the advanced battery pack sensors market will continue to feature diverse market segments. IDTechEx's report, "Advanced Battery Pack Sensors and Remote Monitoring 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets and Forecasts", covers the latest developments within the sector.
The portfolio of Batteries & Energy Storage Research Reports explores different battery types, including Li-ion, solid-state, and redox flow, along with additives, sensors, and thermal management.
