Comparison of Lithium Battery Compositions: Ternary Lithium, Lithium Cobalt Oxide, and Lithium Manganese Oxide

Lithium batteries differ mainly in their cathode materials. The most common types include ternary lithium (NCM/NCA), lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), and lithium manganese oxide (LMO). Below is a detailed comparison:

1. Ternary Lithium Battery (NCM/NCA)

• Composition: A composite oxide of nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and manganese (Mn), or nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and aluminum (Al).

• Characteristics:

• High energy density: Suitable for electric vehicles requiring long range.

• Relatively long cycle life: Better than LCO.

• Moderate safety: Lower than LMO but can be improved with battery management systems.

• Moderate cost: Contains less cobalt than LCO, which makes it more cost-effective.

• Applications: New energy vehicles, energy storage batteries, and high-end consumer electronics.

2. Lithium Cobalt Oxide Battery (LCO)

• Composition: Uses lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂) as the cathode material.

• Characteristics:

• High energy density: Small in size but high in capacity.

• Average cycle life: Around 500 cycles.

• Lower safety: More prone to thermal runaway and less stable than other systems.

• High cost: Cobalt is scarce and expensive.

• Applications: Mainly used in smartphones, laptops, and tablets.

3. Lithium Manganese Oxide Battery (LMO)

• Composition: Uses lithium manganese oxide (LiMn₂O₄) as the cathode material.

• Characteristics:

• Good safety: Stable structure, less likely to experience thermal runaway.

• Low cost: Manganese is abundant and inexpensive.

• Moderate energy density: Lower range compared to NCM and LCO.

• Moderate cycle life: Typically 500–1000 cycles.

• Poor low-temperature performance: Not ideal in cold environments.

• Applications: Power tools, e-bikes, and some electric vehicles (often blended with NCM).

Summary Comparison