Glossary
Prelithiation
Introducing lithium into a battery electrode or cell component before normal cell operation begins.
Prelithiation describes the controlled introduction of lithium into an electrode or cell component before the cell goes through its normal operating cycles. It is considered in battery development to address lithium consumed during the first cycles and to support material combinations that would otherwise show a high initial capacity loss.
Prelithiation is not a silicon-only technology. It is relevant to battery-cell chemistries that use lithium ions for energy transport or storage, including graphite, silicon, composite anodes and other advanced active materials. Suitability depends on the material system, cell chemistry, performance target and process conditions.
Several approaches exist — electrochemical, chemical, direct-contact and lithium-containing additives — and the appropriate choice depends on the project. We support method comparison, lithium-dosage development, process-parameter work and equipment configuration for this development work.