It wasn't that long ago that you had to pack a spare battery for your mobile phone to avoid running out of power in the middle of an important phone call. The rapid technological development of the materials used in rechargeable batteries has allowed these flashy, flickering mobile phones and PDAs to become not only a lot more powerful but also more compact.
Umicore has a world leading position in the field of cobalt-based materials for the widely used Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. That leadership position requires enormous technological efforts to be able to continue to meet customer requirements: the batteries need to be increasingly light, powerful and safe.
These batteries are increasingly being used in environmentally friendly hybrid cars, which have more exacting requirements in terms of the battery's weight, power and resistance to shock and heat.
In this regard Umicore is also able to close the loop: old mobile phones - batteries included - can be recycled using our new in-house developed recycling technology.
