Developing Iron Oxides
 

"We want to start a new chapter in the history of the our business unit. This year, we’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of our pigments. Our Innovation Department is proving that, precisely because of our extensive experience in the field of iron oxides, we have an exciting future ahead of us. 
 
The innovation team is exploring a wide range of fields to bring our iron oxides to new markets. Since we also support the Application team, we’re conducting initial tests in this area ourselves. This makes us flexible and fast. At the same time, we always try to find strategic partners for our projects – and we always succeed. This is the only way we can perfectly tailor our products to potential customers’ needs.  
At the moment, we’re active in the following key areas:  

Batteries are one of the most important markets of the future – not only in the field of electric transportation, but in any application where energy is stored. The innovation teams are already working across several project phases to make iron oxides and iron phosphates usable as precursors for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. We see tremendous potential here. 

Sights Set on New Catalysts

A second area of focus is catalysis – for example, in styrene production, which is needed to produce polystyrene, better known to many as Styrofoam. Even a minor improvement to the catalyst system can yield considerable financial benefits for manufacturers.

Our iron oxide is ideally suited for this purpose because, unlike many catalysts based on transition metals or precious metals, our product is reliably available, produced in a sustainable manner, and has been thoroughly researched by us for decades. 
 
We’ve already achieved a significant milestone in this space: The first batches of a new catalyst precursor have been sold to a major customer and are currently undergoing qualification testing.  In addition, a new funding project with academic and industrial partners on olefin synthesis via the Fischer–Tropsch process was launched in March. 

The goal is to incorporate modified iron oxides into the catalyst system. And initial studies are also underway in the field of ammonia synthesis.   

Smarter Hydrogen Storage 

We’re also conducting exciting research in the field of green technology. The focus here is on hydrogen storage. Under certain conditions, hydrogen reacts with our iron oxides, producing metallic iron and water vapor – a chemical energy storage process. 
 
This process can also be reversed: Water vapor reacts with iron to form hydrogen and iron oxide. The hydrogen can then be used in a subsequent process, such as for chemical reactions or to generate electricity and heat. 
 
In October 2025, we launched a three-year joint research project with potential users focused on this process. Our goal is to have a demonstration plant using LANXESS iron oxides up and running within this timeframe. 

Building on What Works 

In addition to exploring new markets, we will, of course, continue to focus on enhancing and advancing our existing products. Either customers approach the team with new requirements – or the innovation team identifies potential for new applications on its own. This leads to continuously improved or modified iron oxide grades."