Sample Preparation and Analysis of Materials Used in Lithium Battery Production

Introduction

Lithium has been called the white gold of electric vehicles. The Li-ion battery industry was first developed in the 1960s by NASA. In 1985, Akira Yoshino, a Japanese Chemist, implemented petroleum coke into the composition of the design, which resulted in a more stable and safer version of Li-ion battery technology. The U.S. was the leading supplier of lithium until the 1990s. But today, the U.S. is far behind, with only 1% of global lithium being mined and processed in the U.S., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The U.S. holds almost 8 million metric tons in reserve, ranking it among the top five countries in the world, but there is only one major operating lithium mine in the U.S., Albemarle’s Silver Peak in Nevada. However, many more projects are in the works. Exploration in California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona is very likely for the foreseeable future. Ancient dry lake beds are the best sources of lithium salts. Many parts of the Great Basin and Southwest are covered with these lake beds and they hold great potential for lithium.

Continental brines provide approximately three-fourths of the world’s lithium production, due to their relatively low production costs. These brines are a combination of salts, which include sodium and potassium. It is well documented that sodium can cause batteries to overheat and even catch fire, which is a safety issue.

Other metal impurities can lead to decreased performance. In order for battery technology to continue to improve, scientists and engineers must have better control of the composition of the raw materials, as well as intermediate and finished products. This will involve additional metals testing at lower detection limits.