Understanding Different Battery Chemistry

Type of Li-ion cell

Anode

Cathode

Chemical reaction

Suitable applications

Lithium Cobalt Oxide - LiCoO₂ (LCO)

Graphite carbon

Cobalt oxide

Anode: LiC₆ ↔ C₆ + Li⁺ + e^-

Cathode: CoO₂ + Li⁺ + e^- ↔ LiCoO₂

Mobile phones, tablets, laptops, cameras

Lithium Manganese Oxide - LiMn₂O₄ (LMO)

Graphite carbon

Lithium Manganese Oxide

Anode: LiC₆ ↔ C₆ + Li⁺ + e^-

Cathode: MnO₂ + Li⁺ + e^- ↔ LiMn₂O₄

Power tools, medical devices, electric powertrains

Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide -LiNiCoAlO₂ (NCA)

Graphite carbon

Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide

Anode: LiC₆ ↔ C₆ + Li⁺ + e^-

Cathode: NiCoAlO₂ Li⁺ + e^- ↔ LiNiMnCoO₂

Medical devices, industrial, electric powertrain (Tesla)

Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide - LiNiMnCoO₂ (NMC)

Graphite carbon

Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide

Anode: LiC₆ ↔ C₆ + Li⁺ + e^-

Cathode: NiMnCoO₂ + Li⁺ + e^- ↔ LiNiMnCoO₂

E-bikes, medical devices, EVs, industrial

Lithium Iron Phosphate - LiFePO₄ (LFP)

Graphite carbon

Lithium Iron Phosphate

Anode: LiC₆ ↔ C₆ + Li⁺ + e^-

Cathode: FePO₄ + Li⁺ + e^- ↔ LiFePO₄

Portable and stationary needing high load currents and endurance

Lithium Titanate - Li₂TiO₃ (LTO)

Lithium-titanate Li₂TiO₃

LMO or NMC

Anode: Anode: Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ + Li₊ + e^- ↔ Li₇Ti₅O₁₂

Cathode: MnO₂ + Li⁺ + e^- ↔ LiMn₂O₄

UPS, electric powertrain (Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Honda Fit EV),
solar-powered street lighting