Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide Content of Cathode Material

Method Using Titration In NMC Based Cathode Material

The application describes the method to determine the water-soluble hydroxides and carbonates of a NMC based cathode material.

Background

Lithium precursors such as lithium carbonate LiCO3 and lithium hydroxide LiOH are mixed with the corresponding metal salts and the mixture is calcinated at elevated temperatures to form the active electrode material. However, the reaction is never fully complete and some unreacted precursor salts, e.g. LiOH and LiCO3, can remain in the product. These salts are considered as impurities as they do not participate in the electrochemical reaction of the lithium-ion battery.

The content of hydroxides and carbonates are determined in an aqueous acid-base titration using hydrochloric acid as titrant using automated titration system.

This application note includes:

  • Introduction
  • Sample Preparation and Procedures
  • Solutions and Chemicals
  • Chemistry
  • Instruments and Accessories
  • Method in Detail
  • Results and Remarks

And method files (.lmt and .xml) for direct import and implementation on the instrument.