Types of Li-Ion cell chemistries:

• Lithium Cobalt Oxide- LiCoO2 (LCO)

• Lithium Manganese Oxide- LiMn2O4 (LMO)
• Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide- LiNiMnCoO2 (NMC)
• Lithium Iron Phosphate- LiFePO4 (LFP)
• Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide- LiNiCoAlO2 (NCA)
• Lithium Titanate- Li2TiO3 (LTO)
Traction Batteries
Lithium Cobalt Oxide- LiCoO2 (LCO)
• It exhibits high specific energy, which makes it a popular choice for
applications in mobile phones, laptops and digital cameras.
• The battery consists of a cobalt oxide cathode and a graphite carbon
anode.
• It has a relatively short life span.
• Thermal stability of LCO is low.
• It has limited specific power.
• Cobalt is expensive, due to which the overall cost of the cell increases.

https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1487027
Cell name: Lithium Cobalt Oxide 

Cathode LiCoO2
Anode Graphite
Short name LCO
Nominal Voltage 3.60 V
Under & Over Voltage 3.0 - 4.2 V/cell
Specific energy (Wh/kg) 150–200 Wh/kg
Charge & Discharge C rating 0.7 C - 1 C & Max 1 C
Operating temperature 25-55°
Cycle life 500-1000
Mobile phones, Laptops,
Applications Digital cameras, Tablets and
Wearable technology
Very high specific energy,
Comments limited specific power.
Cobalt is expensive.
Lithium Manganese Oxide- LiMn2O4 (LMO)

• LMO cell chemistry is more safer than LCO.

• It has high power but less capacity.
• Lithium manganese oxide is used as cathode and graphite is used as
anode.
• It has limited growth potential due to which it is less relevant now.
• Commonly used in power tools, medical devices, it is combined with
nickel to be used in electric powertrains (Nissan leaf, Chevy Volt and
BMW i3)
Cell name: Lithium Manganese oxide

Cathode LiMnO2
Anode Graphite
Short name LMO
Nominal Voltage 3.70 V
Under & Over Voltage 3.0 - 4.2 V/cell
Specific energy (Wh/kg) 100-150 Wh/kg
Charge & Discharge C rating 0.7 C - 1 C & Max 1 C 10C is possible
with some cells
Operating temperature 5-45°
Cycle life 300-700
Applications
Power tools, medical
devices, electric powertrains
High power but less capacity,
safer than Li-cobalt,
Comments commonly used by
combining with nickel to
improve performance.
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt
Oxide- LiNiMnCoO2 (NMC)
• This is one of the most successful Li-ion systems.
• Nickel is known for its high specific energy but it has poor stability.
• It has low internal resistance due to the presence of manganese.
• The cathode combination is nickel, manganese and cobalt with 1:1:1
weight ratio. 5:3:2 combination is also used to reduce the overall cost.
• NMC exhibits high capacity.
• Due to all its advantages it is widely used in e-bikes, medical devices,
EV’s and few industrial applications.
Cell name: Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide 

Cathode LiNiMnCoO2
Anode Graphite
Short name NMC
Nominal Voltage 3.60 V
Under & Over Voltage 3.0 - 4.2 V/cell
Specific energy (Wh/kg) 150–220 Wh/kg
0.7 C - 1 C & Max 1 C, 2C possible on
Charge & Discharge C rating
some cells
Operating temperature 0-55°
Cycle life 1000-2000
Applications
E-bikes, medical devices,
EV’s, Industrial applications
Provides high capacity and
Comments
high power. Serves as hybrid
cell. Most preferred cell
chemistry.
 Lithium Iron Phosphate- LiFePO4 (LFP)
• LFP offers good electrochemical performance with low resistance.
• High current rating.
• Long cycle life.
• Exhibits good thermal stability.
• Safe and tolerant when abused.
• Main drawback is low capacity.
• It is widely used in portable and stationary which needs high load
currents.

Content
https://www.powerstream.com/LLLF.htm
Cell name: Lithium iron phosphate

Cathode LiFePO4
Anode Graphite
Short name LFP
Nominal Voltage 3.20 V
Under & Over Voltage 2.5-3.65V/cell
Specific energy (Wh/kg) 90-120 Wh/kg
Charge & Discharge C rating 1 C & Max 1 C, 25C on some cells
Operating temperature -20-60°
Cycle life 500-1000
Portable and stationary
Applications which requires high load
currents and endurance.
Very flat voltage discharge
curve but low capacity. One
of safest
Comments
Li-ions. Used for special
markets. Elevated self-
discharge.
Used primarily for energy
storage,
Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum
Oxide- LiNiCoAlO2 (NCA)
• It is very similar to NMC, edges over it.
• Offers high specific energy.
• It has long life span.
• But, it is not as safe as NMC and more expensive.
• High energy and power densities as well as good life span makes it a
potential cell to be used in EV powertrain. (Tesla)
Cell name: Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide

Cathode LiiNiCoAlO2
Anode Graphite
Short name NCA
Nominal Voltage 3.60 V
Under & Over Voltage 3-4.2V/cell
Specific energy (Wh/kg) 200-260 Wh/kg
Charge & Discharge C rating 0.7 C & Max 1 C
Operating temperature 0-45°
Cycle life 500
Applications
Medical devices, industrial,
electric powertrain (Tesla)
Shares similarities with Li-
cobalt. Serves as Energy Cell.
Comments
Mainly used by Panasonic
and Tesla
Cell name: Lithium Titanate

Cathode NMC or LMO

Anode Li2TiO3
Short name LTO
Nominal Voltage 2.40 V
Under & Over Voltage 1.8-2.85V/cell
Specific energy (Wh/kg) 50-80 Wh/kg
Charge & Discharge C rating 1 C & Max 5 C,10C
Operating temperature -30-55°
Cycle life 3000-7000
UPS, electric powertrain
Applications
(Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Honda Fit
EV),
solar-powered street lighting
Long life, fast charge, wide
temperature range but low
specific energy and
Comments
expensive. Among safest Li-
ion batteries.
Ability to ultra-fast charge;
high cost limits to special
application
Lithium Titanate- Li2TiO3 (LTO)
• LTO has been known since 1980, Li-titanate replaces the graphite in
the anode of a typical Li-ion battery, cathode can be LMO or NMC.
• This cell can be fast charged and also delivers a high discharge
current.
• It has longest cell cycle life and is also extremely safe.
• It has low specific energy and is quite expensive.
• Used in UPS, EV powertrain, solar powered street lights.
Comparison of Important characteristics of cells:
Battery size comparison: