Lithium Batteries
Lithium is the future to a lower carbon economy
The advancement of environmentally friendly technologies, such as electric vehicles, power generation, and storage, has highlighted a growing demand and insufficient availability of lithium. This situation underscores the necessity for the exploration and creation of fresh lithium resources, such as those offered by TerraVolt.
How come Lithium
- Large-scale grid storage and electric vehicle batteries necessitate lightweight and compact designs with high energy density.
- Lithium, being the lightest metal on the periodic table, is ideally suited for these requirements.
- Moreover, lithium possesses an exceptionally high electrochemical potential.
Battery Internals
In order to facilitate the movement of lithium ions between the cathode and anode, a lithium-ion battery comprises a range of chemical components, many contain Lithium and the types are listed below.
NMC Lithium Nickel Manganese Oxide
- High energy and power densities with longer life span
- Used in Tesla/Panasonic batteries
NCA Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide
- Increased nickel content provides better battery density while at the same time becoming more unstable
LFP Lithium Iron Phosphate
- Longer cycle life and more stable than most other lithium-ion batteries
- Does not contain nickel or cobalt
LMO Lithium Manganese Oxide
- Shorter lifespan and usually blended with NMC chemistries or aluminum to enhance the performance
- LMO-NMC blends were utilized in Nissan Leaf EV models
Lithium Hydroxide vs Lithium Carbonate
Lithium Carbonate has traditionally been the dominant chemical used in the production of lithium-ion batteries. It has historically been priced lower than lithium hydroxide. However, the trend is now shifting towards increased demand for lithium hydroxide and decreased demand for lithium carbonate. Both lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide can directly serve as battery cathode materials. While lithium hydroxide is commonly derived from lithium carbonate, it can also be produced through electrochemical processes using lithium sulfate or lithium chloride solutions. Notably, the production of battery cathode material is more efficient when lithium hydroxide is utilized. Additionally, certain types of cathodes specifically require lithium hydroxide instead of lithium carbonate. This shift in preference is driven by the advantages and specific requirements of different cathode types in terms of performance and efficiency.