LG Chem Ltd., the world’s largest lithium-ion battery maker, said Wednesday that it has obtained a patent for its safety-reinforced separator, a key component of lithium-ion polymer batteries, in Europe and Japan.

SRS serves a crucial process in battery production by using a thin coating of ceramic materials to increase the safety of batteries in electric vehicles by separating the negative and positive poles.

The SRS technology was a key factor in LG Chem being chosen as the provider of lithium-ion batteries to global carmakers such as General Motors, Ford, Volvo, Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors as well as power companies, including ABB, LG Chem said in an emailed statement.

LG Chem now has SRS patents in five regions, including South Korea, the U.S. and China, the company said. (Yonhap News)