KBR and ISU Scale-up Lithium Sulfide Production for Advanced Batteries with PureLi2S

KBR and ISU Specialty Chemical Co. Ltd. have advanced their PureLi2SSM lithium sulfide technology to commercial scale, following the successful operation of the Onsan pilot plant in Ulsan, Republic of Korea.

Under the joint development agreement signed in 2023, the companies established a pilot plant, which has successfully produced on-spec lithium sulfide, securing market acceptance. Insights from this phase, combined with KBR’s expertise in process technology scale-up, will be critical in designing the commercial facility to bring this technology to the global market.

KBR’s PureLi2S technology is designed to produce battery grade lithium sulfide for All-Solid-State Batteries (ASSBs), which offer higher energy density, enhanced safety, and superior efficiency over conventional liquid electrolytes. The technology enables high purity lithium sulfide production while minimizing off-spec material, a crucial advantage given the process complexity and inherent chemistry. Shifting to a larger continuous process will also improve cost-efficiency and scalability compared to current batch-based processes.

“We are pleased to extend our collaboration with ISU Specialty Chemical, leveraging two years of joint research and development to scale lithium sulfide production,” said Hari Ravindran, Senior Vice President of Technology Solutions, KBR. “With PureLi2S, we are not only supporting higher EV performance and range but also driving the affordability needed to accelerate electrification at scale.”

“The performance of our Onsan plant has exceeded expectations, consistently producing on-spec lithium sulfide,” Seung-Ho Lyu, CEO of ISU Specialty Chemical. “We are very excited to work with KBR to bring this breakthrough technology to market.”