The four major lithium battery materials in the upstream of the lithium battery industry chain include cathode materials, anode materials, separators, and electrolytes. Each link presents different characteristics. Cathode materials have a strong decisive effect on the battery performance.
What are the different types of battery materials?
In the context of battery materials, parts of this literature focus on specific stages of the value chain, e.g. raw materials and mining, while others encompass all steps, but the scope is almost always global and limited to one specific battery material – lithium 21, cobalt 22, 23, nickel 24, manganese 25.
What are the three parts of a battery supply chain?
The battery supply chain can be separated into three segments: upstream (mining and extraction of raw materials), midstream (processing of raw materials into battery-grade components), and downstream (cell and pack manufacturing, as well as end-of-life recycling and reuse) 13.
What raw materials are used in solid-state battery production?
The raw materials used in solid-state battery production include: Lithium Source: Extracted from lithium-rich minerals and brine sources. Role: Acts as the charge carrier, facilitating ion flow between the solid-state electrolyte and the electrodes. Solid Electrolytes (Ceramic, Glass, or Polymer-Based)
What are the supply chains for the critical minerals in batteries?
The supply chains for the critical minerals in these batteries differ in terms of the geography of raw material production (Fig. 1), although a few countries produce the majority of supply for each critical mineral.
Which minerals are considered critical in a battery chemistry?
Discussion of other minerals that may be deemed as critical or could become critical, including phosphorus, aluminum, and iron, as well as the criticality of other battery chemistries under development, is provided in Supplementary Text S 1-2.
What are the downstream activities of lithium batteries?
Downstream activities include manufacturing of the batteries and end goods for the consumer. The production of lithium batteries in China has nearly three times higher emissions than the US because electricity generation in China relies more on coal. End of life activities include recycling or recovery of materials when possible.