Ten-Nine Technologies has partnered with South Korea’s MIN N JUNE Chemical to support customer evaluation and potential commercialization of TENIX, a cathode additive designed to improve battery stability and extend battery life.
Under the agreement, MIN N JUNE will act as Ten-Nine’s commercial and technical representative in South Korea. Its role will include customer engagement, product evaluations, pilot testing, regulatory activities and support for potential commercialization. The partnership follows Ten-Nine’s recent commercial expansion into China, giving the company local representation in another major battery market.
The companies plan to engage battery producers, cathode manufacturers and automotive stakeholders as they evaluate TENIX. The announcement does not name any specific companies participating in evaluations or confirm customer trials.
MIN N JUNE to support customer evaluations
Founded in Seoul in 2004, MIN N JUNE Chemical supplies anode materials to Korean battery customers. The company says it has established long-term cooperation with LG Energy Solution, Samsung and SK On.
The partnership is intended to support customers through the evaluation process, from initial sampling and testing to pilot programs and possible commercial deployment. The announcement does not identify specific customer trials, testing schedules, purchase agreements or commercialization timelines.
“South Korea has long been a global leader in battery innovation. MIN N JUNE brings deep industry relationships and technical expertise that will help accelerate awareness and adoption of TENIX among some of the industry’s most important manufacturers,” said Paige Johnson, chief executive officer of Ten-Nine Technologies.
MIN N JUNE President Jeong-Gil Suh referred to activity in lithium manganese-rich (LMR) cathode materials by LG Energy Solution, POSCO, EcoPro BM, L&F and Umicore. His comments identify activity in the wider market; the announcement does not say those companies are evaluating TENIX.
TENIX is designed for existing cathode processes
TENIX is a powder additive designed to blend directly into cathode active materials during battery manufacturing. Ten-Nine says the additive is intended to improve cathode stability and extend battery life without significant changes to existing manufacturing processes.
According to the company, TENIX typically makes up 0.5% to 2% of cathode weight and does not require new production equipment or a battery redesign. The partnership announcement does not specify which battery chemistries or cell formats will be prioritized for evaluation in South Korea.
Ten-Nine describes TENIX as an “anti-aging” additive intended to reduce chemical degradation that can diminish battery performance over time.
Performance figures are company-reported
Ten-Nine says third-party testing found that TENIX delivered more than 75% additional charge-discharge cycles. The company translates that result into a potential increase in a typical EV battery’s life from 150,000 miles to more than 265,000 miles.
The company also reports around 10% lower resistance, approximately 40% lower heat output over a battery’s lifetime and an estimated 40% reduction in battery cost per kilowatt-hour delivered.
These figures are company-reported test results. The South Korea partnership announcement does not identify the testing organization, protocol, baseline chemistry or cell format used. Results may vary across battery chemistries, designs and operating conditions, and the figures should not be read as guaranteed outcomes for every battery.
Ten-Nine has separately said its performance testing involved 21700-format NMC811 cells. That information provides additional context but does not establish how TENIX will perform in other cell formats or in customer production applications.
Ten-Nine also describes lower heat generation as a potential benefit for energy storage applications, including data centers. The partnership announcement does not report testing in data-center battery systems.
Partnership focuses on evaluation, not announced orders
The agreement gives Ten-Nine local commercial and technical representation as it seeks to introduce TENIX to South Korea’s battery manufacturing sector.
No commercial purchase orders, customer-specific pilots, production volumes or financial forecasts were disclosed. Any commercial deployment will depend on the outcomes of customer evaluations and qualification programs.
FAQ: Ten-Nine and MIN N JUNE
What have Ten-Nine Technologies and MIN N JUNE announced?
The companies have formed a strategic partnership to support the introduction and evaluation of Ten-Nine’s TENIX battery additive in South Korea.
What role will MIN N JUNE play?
MIN N JUNE will act as Ten-Nine’s commercial and technical representative in South Korea, supporting customer engagement, product evaluations, pilot testing, regulatory activities and potential commercialization.
What is TENIX?
TENIX is a powder additive designed to blend into cathode active materials during battery manufacturing. Ten-Nine says it is intended to improve cathode stability and extend battery life without significant changes to existing production processes.
Has TENIX been adopted by a South Korean battery manufacturer?
The announcement does not identify a South Korean customer that has completed a trial, placed an order or adopted TENIX in production.
What performance results does Ten-Nine report?
Ten-Nine reports more than 75% additional charge-discharge cycles, around 10% lower resistance and approximately 40% lower heat output over a battery’s lifetime. The partnership announcement does not provide the testing protocol or detailed conditions, so the figures should be treated as company-reported results.
Which South Korean companies does MIN N JUNE work with?
MIN N JUNE says it supplies anode materials to Korean battery customers and has established long-term cooperation with LG Energy Solution, Samsung and SK On. The announcement does not say those companies are evaluating or adopting TENIX.
