We are currently in the middle of a series on the manufacturing of lithium battery cells. We have looked at the battery cell on a macro level and then at the lithium ingot. Now we are looking at the cathode.
In every battery there must be present a cathode. The cathode is an electrode (electrical conductor) by which electrical current flows out of a polarized electrical device. A cathode can be either positively charged or negatively charged depending on the device type and operating mode.
There are various material compositions that cathodes can be made of including the common metallic oxide cathode. Metal oxides are crystalline solids that contain a metal cation (an ion with more protons than electrons) and an oxide anion (an ion with more electrons than protons). But other cathode compositions do exist and all have their positive benefits and negative side effects.
Some other cathode material compositions include: LiCoO2 , LiMn2O4 ,LiNiO2 , Li2FePO4F. There are others but all variations include oxygen.
In the next article we will look at the battery's electrolyte.
Until next time, Dan Hagiopian www.batteryship.com
