Cathode Materials

Targray offers a complete portfolio of high-performance, high-capacity Cathode Active Battery Materials including: Nickel Cobalt Aluminum (NCA), Core Shell Gradient (CSG), Spinel-based lithium-ion (LMO), Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), Cobalt-based lithium-ion (LCO) and Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM), PVDF & SBR Binders and Aluminum Foils.

Cathode Active Materials

Cathode Materials are the main element dictating the differences in composition while building positive electrodes for battery cells. The table below breaks down the most commonly used Lithium-ion battery cathode chemistries on the market into four groups: Cobalt, Manganese, NMC and Phosphate.

CATHODE MATERIALS - Types of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Chemistry	Nominal V	Charge V limit	Charge & Discharge C-rates	Energy Density Wh/kg	Applications
Cobalt	3.60V	4.20V	1C limit	110-190	Cell phone, cameras, laptops
Manganese (spinel)	3.7-3.80V	4.20V	10C cont. 40C pulse	110-120	Power tools, medical equipment
NCM (nickel-cobalt manganese)	3.70V	4.10V*	~ 5C cont. 30C pulse	95-130	Power tools, medical equipment
Phosphate	3.2-3.30V	3.60V*	35C cont.	95-140	Power tools, medical equipment
* Higher voltages provide more capacity but reduce cycle life

The cathode is comprised of cobalt, nickel and manganese in the crystal structure forming a multi-metal oxide material to which lithium is added. This family of batteries includes a variety of products that cater to different user needs for high energy density and/or high load capacity.

The graph below compares the energy density (Wh/kg) of the three Lithium-ion chemistries against the traditional lead acid, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal-hydride. The incremental improvement of Manganese and Phosphate over older technologies is very evident. Lithium Cobalt Oxide offers the highest energy density, yet its thermal stability and ability to deliver high load currents falls a little short.

Binders

Targray supplies a portfolio of Binders materials: Styrene Butadiene Copolymer (SBR) and Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), used in the cathode and anode electrode slurry making process for Lithium-ion batteries.

Binders such as SBR and PVDF, areused in Lithium-ion batteries to hold the active material particles together and in contact with the current collectors i.e. the Aluminum Foil (Al foil) or the Copper Foil (Cu foil).

Aluminum (Al) Foils

Targray offers a range of Al foils depending on the application of the Li-ion battery. A rolled foil (RA-type), made from wrought Cu is generally used for high-energy, high-power applications. . The Aluminum foils are used as the cathode current collector of secondary Li-ion batteries.

Currently, the anode is comprised of a Graphite mixture, while the cathode combines Lithium and other choice metals, and all materials in a battery have a theoretical energy density. With Lithium-ion, the anode is well optimized, and design changes will yield little to no significant improvements in performance. On the other hand, the cathode material is wide open to enhancements, and explains why today's battery research is so heavily focused on this area.

Contact Targray today to find out more about our complete portfolio of high performing cathode materials.