When we talk about the demand of industrial gases for rechargeable batteries represented by lithium ion battery (LiB), we refer to nitrogen as an atmospheric gas for antioxidizing or ignition-proof purposes in the sealing process of electrode material and electrolytic solution or to oxygen used in sintering of oxidized metals. However, any particular process gases are not used, but the application scope still remains within the range of general-purpose gases only.

This situation is quite different from that of the electronics products including LED which utilize liquid crystal panel, photovoltaic generation, high-purity ammonia, high-purity hydrogen or organic metal materials, where there is demand for special material gases similar to that for silicon semiconductors.

Among the rechargeable batteries, LiB particularly is expected to grow and expand the market in such a large-capacity field as for the conventional mobile batteries, electric vehicle batteries and the storage of renewable energy.

For realization of a larger energetic density, cost reduction and safety, R&D is underway now in pursuit of the most suitable electrode material or combination of electrolytic solution. It is forecast that such LiB of next-generation type will show up in the market probably in 2015. Now is the very time that battery manufacturers or material producers are in the midst of selecting a process for their mass-production plan. Although some inquiries for nitrogen or oxygen are being brought to the industrial gas manufacturers, the process is driven by users, and as a matter of fact, there is only a little chance that a proposition for gas application can be brought from a gas supplier, as commented by a staff-member of industrial gas manufacturer. Of course, the demand for gas will increase in the age of large-capacity consumption, no such an explosive growth in consumption can be expected as seen in NF3 for liquid crystal panels, silane for photovoltaics or ammonia for LED. Furthermore, these days we see an accelerated trend of mass-production abroad of LiB. It seems to be highly probable that gas demand will be in full bloom in the overseas market.