Active material

Example

Use in Lemonergy

Connect each material with its function.

This is a reference concept. No executable Lemonergy block has been verified for this term.

Learn it in Lesson 1B · Cell architecture →

Connected concepts

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Anode active material

The lithium host in the negative electrode: natural or synthetic graphite in almost every lithium-ion cell today, sometimes blended with a few percent of silicon to raise capacity.

Binder

A polymer that holds electrode particles to each other and to the foil — typically PVDF for positive electrodes and CMC with SBR for graphite. It stores no charge, so cell designers use as little as the electrode needs.

Cathode active material

The lithium-containing compound in the positive electrode — NMC, NCA, LFP or LCO powder — that supplies the cell’s cyclable lithium. It is the most expensive material in most cells and sets the nominal voltage and much of the energy density.

Conductive additive

Fine carbon, such as carbon black or carbon nanotubes, added in small amounts to an electrode so that electrons can reach every active particle. Many active materials conduct electrons poorly on their own.

Specific capacity

Charge stored per gram of active material, in mAh/g. It is the figure materials scientists quote: about 150–200 mAh/g for layered oxides, 160 for LFP, 372 theoretical for graphite and about 3600 for silicon.

References & further reading

Further reading on this topic

These sources provide broader context; they are not presented as citations for every statement in this entry.

1. DOE Explains… Batteries

   U.S. Department of Energy

   Topic background · Introductory account of electrodes, electrolyte and conversion between chemical and electrical energy.

2. Current and future lithium-ion battery manufacturing

   Yangtao Liu, Ruihan Zhang, Jun Wang, Yan Wang · iScience · 2021

   Topic background · Electrode preparation, cell assembly, formation and manufacturing trade-offs.