ExxonMobil chemical now producing LiIon battery seperators
Even though we know where ExxonMobil's priorities lie that doesn't mean they want to get left out of the lithium ion battery land rush. Tonen Chemical is part of ExxonMobil Chemical and they've now started commercial production of microporous films that are used as separators between the electrodes of lithium batteries. They've developed a new manufacturing process for making the polymer films that have higher melting temperatures improving the thermal safety of the batteries. Of course,even when working on battery components, ExxonMobil still gets to use petroleum to produce the polyolefin films.
[Source: ExxonMobil Chemicals]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tony Belding 3:48PM (5/10/2007)
Exxon has a very compelling reason to be into battery research. Anything they invent, they can patent, and then they can prevent it from being used in automobiles for the next 17 years -- the same way Chevron have used their patents to suppress the use of NiMH cells in cars.
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Calvin 2:03PM (5/11/2007)
Don't get the idea that Mobil is branching out into businesses not directly related to oil. The Mobil Chemical division has been around for decades. They used to own and produce all the Hefty and Kordite products and still produce many plastics products.
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Chris M 4:01PM (5/14/2007)
It wouldn't do Exxon any good to withold it from the market, as it is only one component of the battery and they can't control the end use of those batteries. Also, there are many other companies that also have versions of battery separator material not covered by this patent.
No, Exxons only rational choice is to go into full production and make as much money on it as they can. In the long run, all the oil companies know they will have to rely more on petrochemicals and plastics, and rely less on declining fuel sales.
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