Battery research

and production
Materials, parameters, and
analytical methods
A comprehensive
Battery research encompasses the development and cells. Metrohm provides you with top-quality batteries and raw materials. The table below gives
process from theory and concept validation of new analytical instruments, know-how, and first-class, you an overview, which parameters of interests

portfolio
materials to characterization and quality control of on-site service to enable and support your research. can be analyzed by which method using Metrohm
raw materials and finished batteries. Progress in the instrumentation. Feel free to get more detailed
quest for higher energy, power density, and more Our White Paper WP-052 «A Guide to Li-ion Battery information from the corresponding and linked
efficient energy storage depends on sophisticated Research and Development» gives you a compre- Metrohm application documents. Missing your ap-
instrumentation for the characterization of materials hensive overview of the electrochemical analysis of plication? Contact your local Metrohm organization
to discuss possible solutions.

Sample Parameter of interest Standard Analysis technique Metrohm Application Documents

Anode (raw materials) Water content Karl Fischer titration AB-434, WP-084

Eluated anions and cations Ion chromatography

Cathode (raw materials) Purity of lithium salts (LiOH, Li2CO3, LiNO3, LiCl) GB/T 11064.1, GB/T 11064.2, Titration, Ion chromatography
GB/T 11064.3
AN-T-215, AN-T-216, AN-T-181, AN-PAN-1058,

Impurities in lithium salts (e.g., sodium, ammonium) GB/T 11064.15 Ion chromatography, AN-C-189, AN-C-063, WP-084
Ion measurement

Ni, Co, Mn content in solution for cathode material Titration, Voltammetry AN-T-218, WP-084
production (single metal or mixture)

Cobalt, nickel, iron, manganese in various cathode material YS/T 1006.1, YS/T 1028.1, Titration WP-084
YS/T 1263.2, YS/T 1472.1,
YS/T 1472.2, GB/T 23367.1,
GB/T 30835

Water content Karl Fischer titration AB-434, WP-084

Eluated anions and cations Ion chromatography

Through-plane tortuosity Electrochemistry AN-BAT-011

Residual alkali, soluble base content (SBC) Titration

Phosphate (phosphoric acid) as starting material for LFP Titration WP-084

Electrolytes, electrolyte additives, Water content SJ/T 11723 Karl Fischer titration AB-434

Cations and anions in electrolyte (e.g., LiPF6) Ion chromatography AN-CS-011,

and electrolyte solvents
Composition of lithium salts in battery electrolyte Ion chromatography AN-S-372, WP-084

Electrolyte resistance Electrochemistry

Solid electrolyte interface investigation Electrochemistry AN-BAT-010

Diffusion coefficient Electrochemistry AN-BAT-009

Lithium ion transference number Electrochemistry AN-BAT-012

HF content in electrolyte SJ/T 11723 Titration

Ionic impurities SJ/T 11723 Ion chromatography, Titration WP-084

Separators Water content Karl Fischer titration AB-434, WP-084

Eluated anions and cations Ion chromatography

MacMullin number Electrochemistry AN-BAT-006

A comprehensive
portfolio

Sample Parameter of interest Standard Analysis technique Metrohm Application Documents

Finished batteries Voltage characteristics upon charge and discharge Electrochemistry AN-BAT-001, AN-BAT-002, AN-BAT-010, AN-BAT-007, AN-
BAT-013, AN-EC-018

Cycling performance and coulombic efficiency Electrochemistry WP-052

Cycle and calendar life evaluation Electrochemistry WP-052

Battery capacity and power Electrochemistry WP-052

State of charge, depth of discharge, and state of health Electrochemistry WP-052

Internal battery resistance Electrochemistry AN-EC-013, AN-BAT-006,AN-BAT-008, AN-BAT-011

Charge transfer resistance Electrochemistry AN-BAT-013, AN-EIS-003, AN-EIS-001

Diffusion coefficient (GITT and PITT) Electrochemistry AN-BAT-003, AN-BAT-004, AN-BAT-009, AN-BAT-012

Eluated anions and cations Ion chromatography

 Analysis techniques

Electrochemistry Titration
ELECTROCHEMISTRY – IDEAL FOR STUDYING KARL FISCHER TITRATION – THE PREFERRED
THE PERFORMANCE OF BATTERIES AND METHOD FOR WATER DETERMINATION
BATTERY MATERIALS
Lithium-ion batteries must be completely free of
Our specially designed potentiostats/galvanostats water (concentration of H2O < 20 mg/kg), because
are used for the development and characterization water reacts with the conducting salt, e.g., LiPF6,
of battery materials as well as finished batteries. to form hydrofluoric acid. Sensitive coulometric Karl
Electrochemical measurements are based on a Fischer titration is the ideal method for determining
highly accurate control and measurements of water content at trace levels. Water determination
voltage, current, electrical charge, or impedance. for solids is carried out using the Karl Fischer oven
method, where residual moisture in the sample
Voltammetry is a highly sensitive method (LODs in is evaporated and transferred to the titration cell
the ppb range) for the analysis of electrochemically where it is subsequently titrated.
active substances, such as inorganic or organic ions.
For example, voltammetry allows the simultaneous
determination of nickel, cobalt, and manganese in
cathode materials. This technique combines a wide
range of applications, short analysis times, and
high precision with comparatively low costs of the
required instrumentation.
Ion Chromatography
ION CHROMATOGRAPHY – HIGHLY
EFFICIENT MULTI-PARAMETER ANALYSIS
OF ELECTROLYTES AND METALS SALTS
8.000.5429EN – 2022-11 © Metrohm AG. All trademarks are the property of Metrohm and its subsidiaries.
Subject to change | Layout by RTS Rieger Team, printed in Switzerland by Metrohm AG, CH-9100 Herisau

Ion chromatography (IC) is an efficient and precise

multi-parameter method to quantify impurities in
Titration
lithium salts, decomposition products in electrolytes,
Potentiometric titration is ideally suited for deter- as well as anions and cations in eluates of various
mining the purity of lithium salts or metals used in battery raw materials.
cathode materials, such as cobalt, nickel, manganese,
or iron. It is applied to analyze standard solutions
used for the preparation of cathode materials
or finished cathode materials. Unlike competing
methods such as ICP-MS or AAS, titration does not
require dilution of such samples. Hence, results
obtained by titration are more reliable and accurate.
Furthermore, running and maintenance costs are
considerably lower compared with ICP-MS or AAS.

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