Enjie Co., Ltd.: Wet-process separator capacity utilization remains high, with demand growth expected by 2026.

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On January 14, Enjie Co., Ltd. announced updates regarding its all-solid-state battery materials. Its subsidiary, Hunan Enjie Advanced New Material Technology Co., Ltd., focuses on developing high-purity lithium sulfide, sulfide solid-state electrolytes, and related membranes. The company has completed a pilot line for high-purity lithium sulfide and started operations on a 10-ton solid-state electrolyte production line, which is now ready for shipments. Future expansion will depend on market demand.

Enjie noted that the price of lithium sulfide has room to fall as technology, processes, and the supply chain mature, and as production scales up. For instance, if manufacturers using the hydrogen sulfide or sulfur source routes solve their scaling challenges, costs will decrease. Enjie’s own carbon thermal reduction method also scales well, and larger production volumes will lower costs further.

The domestic equipment market is mature. Existing equipment can produce sulfide solid-state electrolytes with only customized modifications for sulfide properties. There are no major equipment bottlenecks. Regarding capacity, the company currently operates a 10-ton annual production line for electrolytes. It will time any expansion according to downstream demand.

Lithium sulfide production follows three main routes:

  1. Solid-phase (carbon thermal reduction): Safe and suitable for mass production. It can use modified lithium iron phosphate production equipment and is compatible with cathode material production. A drawback is incomplete reduction of carbon and lithium sulfate.

  2. Gas-phase: Features low reaction temperature and a simple process. However, hydrogen sulfide is flammable, toxic, and explosive. Equipment needs custom design similar to silicon-carbon anode lines, making scaling difficult.

  3. Liquid-phase: Can use retrofitted solid-phase or electrolyte equipment. Downsides include solvent evaporation, strict environmental approval for toxic solvents like NMP, and high residual solvent content.

Wet-process separator capacity utilization remains high due to strong demand, especially from the energy storage market. Enjie is committed to supplying high-quality separators and services globally. The company expects wet-process separator demand to grow through 2026, alongside rising needs for energy storage and power batteries.