NMC, LFP, LTO. What's the Difference? [The Battery Cycle #2]

"In a fully charged battery cell, many billions of Lithium ions are trapped in a porous reservoir called the anode, typically a foil or sheet of some particular material we will investigate later. They are embedded within the material structure like parachuters in an airplane, excited to leave their spot and to travel to the opposite reservoir to rest again, called cathode."

"Four years ago, with insights from Claudius Jehle, CEO of volytica diagnostics GmbH, we launched "The Battery Cycle" series of articles, aiming to shedding light on the complexities of Li-Ion batteries.The series provided a huge amount of valuable insights for anyone involved in electric mobility.Now, four years later, we return to those same topics-still thanks to the collaboration with Claudius Jehle-enriched by real-world data and lessons learned."

"Their journey begins when the anode and cathode are connected - e.g., by switching on the electric motor. The Lithium ions leave the anode, releasing electrons which travel through the external circuit to power the motor - "electric current". The ions make their way through the electrolyte, a liquid that permeates the tiny space between anode and cathode. Also present here is the separator, which physically keeps the two electrodes separated - otherwise: Boom, short circuit!"

Four years of work produced deep practical insights and real-world data on Li‑Ion battery behavior and performance. Li‑Ion battery operation centers on lithium ions moving from anode to cathode through an electrolyte while electrons flow through an external circuit to deliver power; a separator prevents short circuits. Cell materials and architectures define chemistry families (for example NMC, LFP, LTO) that emphasize different strengths such as energy density, power capability, safety, cycle life, and thermal stability. Design choices produce tradeoffs, and targeted improvements tune batteries toward higher energy, longer life, faster charging, or greater safety depending on application requirements.

Read at Sustainable Bus