Taiwan Mitsui Chemicals to Manufacture and Sell ITRI’s STOBA Polymer

On September 16th, the Industrial Technology Research Institute of Taiwan signed an exclusive license agreement with Taiwan Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (President: Takeshi Hiraiwa), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (President & CEO: Tsutomu Tannowa), allowing it to manufacture and distribute ITRI’s STOBA™, the world’s only technology to prevent hazardous lithium-ion battery (LIB) thermal runaway which can lead to explosions and fires.

ITRI, Taiwan’s largest and leading R&D institution, developed this groundbreaking technology, with support from the Taiwan government, using nonconventional mechanisms and innovative materials to prevent thermal runaway of LIBs. In 2009, ITRI’s technology to enhance the safety of LIBs, STOBA™ (self-terminated oligomers with hyper-branched architecture) was recognized by R&D Magazine and awarded the “2009 R&D 100 Award in Energy Devices”. From 2012, ITRI in collaboration with Mitsui Chemicals undertook joint development and feasibility studies.

STOBA™ is a functional polymer with dendritic (hyper branch) nano-sized structures which forms films when internal temperatures of LIBs increase abnormally, thereby preventing migration of lithium ions and inhibiting further temperature increase, allowing safe termination of the battery. This technology is already used in Taiwan in electronic instruments such as smartphones and personal mobility vehicles (PMV) which require high safety standards.

With the increase of larger-scale, high energy (higher output and high capacity) applications, such as electric vehicles, safety of LIBs is a top priority, pressing issue. In addition, with market growth of high-risk, high-energy-based cathode active materials, the need for safe batteries will grow significantly. “STOBA™ inside” will significantly contribute to safety and reliability of LIBs and bolster market expansion.

By fiscal 2016, Mitsui Chemicals will establish a manufacturing base for STOBA™ in Taiwan. The Company targets fusion of its proprietary polymer and composite technologies to further enhance STOBA™ by improving manageability and usability. Mitsui Chemicals also plans to develop proprietary LIB materials using STOBA™ technology.