Week 1 Understanding Different Battery Chemistry
1)Lithium-ion battery
A lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is an advanced battery technology that uses lithium ions as a key component of its electrochemistry. During a discharge cycle, lithium atoms in the anode are ionized and separated from their electrons. The lithium ions move from the anode and pass through the electrolyte until they reach the cathode, where they recombine with their electrons and electrically neutralize. The lithium ions are small enough to be able to move through a micro-permeable separator between the anode and cathode. In part because of lithium’s small size (third only to hydrogen and helium), Li-ion batteries are capable of having a very high voltage and charge storage per unit mass and unit volume.
Li-ion batteries can use a number of different materials as electrodes. The most common combination is that of lithium cobalt oxide (cathode) and graphite (anode), which is most commonly found in portable electronic devices such as cellphones and laptops. Other cathode materials include lithium manganese oxide (used in hybrid electric and electric automobiles) and lithium iron phosphate. Li-ion batteries typically use ether (a class of organic compounds) as an electrolyte.
Table which includes materials & chemical reactions occurring at the anode and cathode of LCO, LMO, NCA, NMC, LFP and LTO type of lithium ion cells:
Lithium Cobalt Oxide(LiCoO2) — LCO
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Lithium Cobalt Oxide: LiCoO2 cathode (~60% Co), graphite anode |
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Voltages |
3.60V nominal; typical operating range 3.0–4.2V/cell |
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Specific energy (capacity) |
150–200Wh/kg. Specialty cells provide up to 240Wh/kg. |
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Charge (C-rate) |
0.7–1C, charges to 4.20V (most cells); 3h charge typical. Charge current above 1C shortens battery life. |
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Discharge (C-rate) |
1C; 2.50V cut off. Discharge current above 1C shortens battery life. |
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Cycle life |
500–1000, related to depth of discharge, load, temperature |
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Thermal runaway |
150°C (302°F). Full charge promotes thermal runaway |
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Applications |
Mobile phones, tablets, laptops, cameras |
Lithium Manganese Oxide (LiMn2O4) — LMO
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Lithium Manganese Oxide: LiMn2O4 cathode. graphite anode |
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Voltages |
3.70V (3.80V) nominal; typical operating range 3.0–4.2V/cell |
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Specific energy (capacity) |
100–150Wh/kg |
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Charge (C-rate) |
0.7–1C typical, 3C maximum, charges to 4.20V (most cells) |
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Discharge (C-rate) |
1C; 10C possible with some cells, 30C pulse (5s), 2.50V cut-off |
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Cycle life |
300–700 (related to depth of discharge, temperature) |
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Thermal runaway |
250°C (482°F) typical. High charge promotes thermal runaway |
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Applications |
Power tools, medical devices, electric powertrains |
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) — NMC
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Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide: LiNiMnCoO2. cathode, graphite anode |
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Voltages |
3.60V, 3.70V nominal; typical operating range 3.0–4.2V/cell, or higher |
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Specific energy (capacity) |
150–220Wh/kg |
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Charge (C-rate) |
0.7–1C, charges to 4.20V, some go to 4.30V; 3h charge typical. Charge current above 1C shortens battery life. |
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Discharge (C-rate) |
1C; 2C possible on some cells; 2.50V cut-off |
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Cycle life |
1000–2000 (related to depth of discharge, temperature) |
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Thermal runaway |
210°C (410°F) typical. High charge promotes thermal runaway |
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Cost |
~$420 per kWh[1] |
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Applications |
E-bikes, medical devices, EVs, industrial |
Lithium Iron Phosphate(LiFePO4) — LFP
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Lithium Iron Phosphate: LiFePO4 cathode, graphite anode |
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Voltages |
3.20, 3.30V nominal; typical operating range 2.5–3.65V/cell |
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Specific energy (capacity) |
90–120Wh/kg |
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Charge (C-rate) |
1C typical, charges to 3.65V; 3h charge time typical |
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Discharge (C-rate) |
1C, 25C on some cells; 40A pulse (2s); 2.50V cut-off (lower that 2V causes damage) |
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Cycle life |
2000 and higher (related to depth of discharge, temperature) |
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Thermal runaway |
270°C (518°F) Very safe battery even if fully charged |
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Cost |
~$580 per kWh[1] |
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Applications |
Portable and stationary needing high load currents and endurance |
Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (LiNiCoAlO2) — NCA
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Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide: LiNiCoAlO2 cathode (~9% Co), graphite anode |
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Voltages |
3.60V nominal; typical operating range 3.0–4.2V/cell |
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Specific energy (capacity) |
200-260Wh/kg; 300Wh/kg predictable |
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Charge (C-rate) |
0.7C, charges to 4.20V (most cells), 3h charge typical, fast charge possible with some cells |
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Discharge (C-rate) |
1C typical; 3.00V cut-off; high discharge rate shortens battery life |
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Cycle life |
500 (related to depth of discharge, temperature) |
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Thermal runaway |
150°C (302°F) typical, High charge promotes thermal runaway |
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Cost |
~$350 per kWh[1] |
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Applications |
Medical devices, industrial, electric powertrain (Tesla) |
Lithium Titanate (Li2TiO3) — LTO
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Lithium Titanate: Cathode can be lithium manganese oxide or NMC; Li2TiO3 (titanate) anode |
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Voltages |
2.40V nominal; typical operating range 1.8–2.85V/cell |
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Specific energy (capacity) |
50–80Wh/kg |
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Charge (C-rate) |
1C typical; 5C maximum, charges to 2.85V |
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Discharge (C-rate) |
10C possible, 30C 5s pulse; 1.80V cut-off on LCO/LTO |
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Cycle life |
3,000–7,000 |
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Thermal runaway |
One of safest Li-ion batteries |
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Cost |
~$1,005 per kWh[1] |
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Applications |
UPS, electric powertrain (Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Honda Fit EV), solar-powered street lighting |
2. Differences between each type of Li+ion batteries:
Lithium-ion batteries are used in most aspects of our everyday lives. Most devices like smartphones and laptops cannot operate without these batteries. Lithium-ion batteries have also become very important in the field of electromobility as it is now the battery of choice in most electric vehicles. Its high specific energy gives it an advantage over other batteries.
There are different types of lithium-ion batteries and the main difference between them lies in their cathode materials. Different kinds of lithium-ion batteries offer different features, with trade-offs between specific power, specific energy, safety, lifespan, cost, and performance.
The six lithium-ion battery types that we will be comparing are Lithium Cobalt Oxide, Lithium Manganese Oxide, Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide, Lithium Iron Phosphate, Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide, and Lithium Titanate.
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Lithium-ion battery Types |
Specific power |
Specific energy |
Safety |
Lifespan |
Cost |
Performance |
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Lithium Cobalt Oxide |
Low |
High |
Low |
Low |
Low |
Medium |
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Lithium Manganese Oxide |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium |
Low |
Low |
Low |
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Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide |
Medium |
High |
Medium |
Medium |
Low |
Medium |
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Lithium Iron Phosphate |
High |
Low |
High |
High |
Low |
Medium |
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Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide |
Medium |
High |
Low |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium |
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Lithium Titanate |
Medium |
Low |
High |
High |
High |
High |