BYD supplier Tinci secures eight solid-state battery patents in major technology push
A new series of invention patents has drawn attention to Tinci Materials as the company strengthens its position in the global battery supply chain and expands long-running collaborations with leading Chinese cell manufacturers. Tinci confirmed that it recently received eight patents from the National Intellectual Property Administration covering sulfide solid electrolytes and their application in all-solid-state lithium batteries, as reported by NBD.
The patents comprise four electrolyte formulations and their preparation methods, along with four additional versions developed for full-solid-state battery systems. Together they form a technical framework intended to support improvements in safety, durability and long-term operational stability. Tinci described the materials as capable of functioning in both laboratory environments and real battery platforms that require high energy density and extended cycle life. While the patents do not immediately affect business operations, the company expects them to strengthen intellectual property protection and support continued development of next-generation electrolytes.
Tinci’s sulfide electrolyte development remains in the pilot stage. The company currently provides kilogram-level samples to downstream cell manufacturers for testing, and construction of a mid-scale pilot line is underway, with completion targeted for mid-2026. The process uses a liquid-phase reaction method that extends from its existing lithium salt production technologies.
The company’s position in the industry is powerfully shaped by its long-term cooperation with major Chinese battery producers. Tinci has been part of CATL’s supply chain since 2015 and is now one of its most critical strategic suppliers. In June 2024, Tinci subsidiary Ningde Kaixin signed a material supply agreement with CATL for electrolyte products equivalent to 58,600 tonnes of solid lithium hexafluorophosphate covering 2024 and 2025. The contract is sized to support approximately 410-470 GWh of CATL battery output and is valued at more than 10 billion yuan, or about 1.38 billion USD at current exchange rates.
Eight newly granted patents, ongoing pilot-scale production, and established supply relationships with CATL and BYD place Tinci at the centre of China’s solid-state battery research and early-scale validation. The company’s sulfide electrolyte materials are now being tested and integrated by major cell makers, supporting the development of high-energy-density, long-life batteries.
