Lithium (Li) is a lightweight metal element with an atomic number of 3. It is an indispensable key material in the battery industry and is widely used in lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion battery). It is the preferred core element for high-energy density energy storage systems due to its extremely high electrochemical activity and the lightest metal properties.
Lithium elements usually exist in the electrolyte in the form of ions (Li⁺), migrating back and forth between the positive and negative electrodes of the battery to achieve the conversion of energy charging and discharging. Common lithium-containing materials include:
Anode materials: metallic lithium (used in lithium metal batteries), lithium-intercalated graphite (LiC₆)
Cathode materials: LFP (lithium iron phosphate), NMC (trivalent), LCO (lithium cobalt oxide), etc.
Electrolyte: lithium salts such as LiPF₆, LiBF₄, etc.
