17 February 2025
You have probably heard that nickel is one of the essential raw materials commonly used in electric vehicle batteries. But what exactly is the function of nickel in nickel batteries? In this article, we will take a closer look – from the basic function of these batteries to the role nickel plays in the process.
A battery is a device that can convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Batteries are widely used in mobile electronic equipment such as cellphones, laptops, flashlights, and now in electric vehicles (EV).
Batteries come in a range of shapes, sizes, and raw materials, depending on their power requirements and the devices for which they are intended. In general, batteries consist of one anode (negative pole), one cathode (positive pole), and an electrolyte.
A typical battery’s operational process can be split into two main phases, namely the discharging and the charging phases:
When not in use, electrons in the battery are collected at the negative pole (anode), while cations (a positively charged ion) are collected at the positive pole (cathode). When the battery is installed in an electronic device, the electrons will move towards the positive pole (cathode), while the cations simultaneously move towards the negative pole (anode).
During this phase of the process, electrons pass through the circuit of the device you are using, which supplies the device with the electrical charge it needs to function.
When there are no more electrons that can be moved from the negative pole (anode) to the positive pole (cathode), the battery can no longer power the electronic device. This is commonly called a "dead battery".
However, in rechargeable batteries, this process can be reversed. When electricity is passed through the battery, the electrons move back through the circuit to the negative pole (anode), while the cations move back to the positive pole (cathode) through the electrolyte. This means the battery can be reused.
Now that we understand how batteries work, a question arises: What role does nickel play in this process? Nickel is widely used as a raw material for the positive pole (cathode) of batteries. It is usually combined with other metals such as manganese and cobalt, thereby becoming a nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMC) battery. This alloy plays a pivotal role in transporting electrons from the negative pole (anode).
So what makes nickel the raw material of choice for battery cathodes? Put simply, nickel has a greater capacity to bond with more cations than other metals, which facilitates more electron movement when the battery is used. This gives nickel batteries the ability to store significantly more energy than equivalent batteries made from alternative materials.
In addition, nickel batteries are also a more popular choice because they tend to have a longer life cycle than other options. Even when their service life has expired they can still be recycled to retrieve the nickel, which can then be processed into new batteries.
Harita Nickel is the first company in Indonesia that is capable of processing nickel ore into mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP), along with nickel sulfate and cobalt sulfate; products that can be processed into electric vehicle batteries.
Harita Nickel currently has six high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) production lines, with a combined production capacity of 120,000 tons of nickel per year. Three of these production lines are operated by PT Halmahera Persada Lygend (PT HPL), while PT Obi Nickel Cobalt (PT ONC) operates a further three. This makes Harita Nickel the largest nickel sulfate factory in the world.
Go Top