Albemarle offers lithium metal as ingots, foil, rods, or anodes in hundreds of sizes and thicknesses for primary and secondary lithium batteries. High-purity lithium metal or lithium alloys are used as anode material.Current research and development efforts pursue the objective of manufacturing a rechargeable lithium battery, by using a lithium metal anode, which offers the highest energy density for rechargeable applications. The anodes of lithium batteries are usually made of lithium foils and rods. To achieve higher surface areas, thin lithium foils are spirally wound in primary cylindrical cells. Anodes for button cells are cut from rods or stamped out of foils.We also produce foil laminates that require the bonding of copper, nickel, or other metals, to lithium foil.
To meet the highly specialized needs of lithium-battery researchers and thermal battery producers, Albemarle produces a broad range of lithium alloys, such as lithium aluminum and lithium silicon in the form of powders, foils, or anodes.Our product forms are:
- Lithium foil
- UltraThin foil
- Specialized lithium foil
- Lithium anodes
- Lithium rods
- Lithium alloy powders
- Precision cut-to-length rectangular anodes
- Precision cut-to-shape custom-shaped anodes
In addition to these standard product offerings, our team of lithium experts is prepared to consider new and unique products to suit novel and innovative applications in the rapidly evolving sector of battery industries. Please contact us to discuss how we can improve our standard offerings to better meet your needs.
Lithium salts such as lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide are chemicals from which nearly all other lithium compounds derive.
These lithium salts are the basis for rechargeable batteries that serve a variety of uses ranging from electronic consumer goods to the latest electric vehicles.
As the need for batteries of higher power and capacity evolves, Albemarle will keep focused on providing not only a reliable source of supply by constantly increasing production, but also on improved material quality grades. As far as lithium carbonate is concerned, we will continue to focus on efforts to provide higher purity levels as well as unique physical parameters. This will meet the demands of cathode manufacturers.
In 2012, Albemarle expanded its lithium-hydroxide capacity in the United States, producing material of the highest quality. In 2016 Albemarle acquired additional production capacity for Lithium hydroxide in China.
Albemarle is committed to support the development of future battery technologies. One of the key materials for an increased safety level of batteries at a concurrent opportunity for cost benefits are solid electrolytes. Here, sulfide based materials are currently the best performing ones.
Albemarle will serve the increasing demand for this battery component and thus has expanded its production capacities for the key compound, lithium sulfide pure grade Li2S PG.
After a successful commissioning of the new production line in our production site in Langelsheim, Germany, Albemarle offers lithium sulfide pure grade (Li2S PG) on a continuous basis from a pilot production plant. Annual production capacity is in the range of MT-level.
High Quality and Purity
The material has been designed to fulfill the high requirements needed for applications in lithium ion batteries.
The quality of Li2S from Albemarle is especially suitable for a variety of processes and applications in the energy storage sector because of the unique product characteristics:
- ultra low impurity profile
- free flowing
- easy to dose
- high lot-to-lot consistency.
The high quality of the Li2S PG is monitored by a complete set of analytical data. This is to underline the low impurity level. A specially designed control process in combination with our established quality management ensures the target quality.
LiBOB - High Performance Additive
LiBOB [Lithium bis-(oxalato)borate] belongs to a family of thermally stable chelatoborate salts. Unlike conventional fluorinated conductive salts such as LiPF6 or LiBF4, non-toxic LiBOB works as a multifunctional electrolyte component. The low nucleophilicity of the BOB anion leads to a high degree of dissociation and an unusually high Li-ion transference number.
The halide free product can be employed both as performance additive in standard LiPF6 based electrolytes as well as full conductive salt for lithium batteries. Its unique film forming properties cover and protect graphite anode surfaces.
Further benefits result from its unique film-forming properties, which consists in covering and protecting the graphite anode. LiBOB builds up a thin, corrosion-inhibiting, stable passivation layer on aluminum, which is used as a current collector on the cathode. Both effects will improve the durability and safety of the entire battery.
LiBOB abg - advanced battery grade
The new quality advanced battery grade LiBOB abg has improved filtration properties to ease the electrolyte manufacturing process while keeping unchanged superior electrochemical characteristics.
Key Benefits of LiBOB
- Excellent performance vs. LiFePO4 and NMC type materials
- Reduced leaching of Mn from spinel based cathode active materials
- Improved overcharge protection
- Higher safety against mechanical abuse
- Extended operational lifetime at elevated temperature
LiBOB Additive Application
- Most advanced halogen-free performance additive available
- High performance additive
- high ionic conductivity combined with improved safety by protective SEI formation
- Sufficient solubility in a large variety of solvents; EC is no longer mandatory for protective SEI formation
