Technical guides
Prelithiation Guides
Explanatory articles on the questions that come up in prelithiation development work — written for battery developers, without performance claims. Each guide states what is established practice and what has to be determined experimentally.
Prelithiation of Graphite Anodes
Prelithiation of a graphite anode means introducing lithium into the anode before the cell goes through its normal first charge, so that the lithium consumed by SEI formation is not taken from the cathode. The result is more cyclable lithium left in the cell after formation.
Read the guide →Silicon Anode First-Cycle Capacity Loss
First-cycle capacity loss in a silicon anode is the lithium consumed irreversibly during the first charge — mostly by interphase formation on a surface that expands and cracks, plus lithium trapped in the silicon structure. It shows up as a low first-cycle coulombic efficiency and it reduces the energy the finished cell can deliver.
Read the guide →Prelithiation Methods Compared
The four established routes are electrochemical prelithiation, chemical prelithiation with a lithiating reagent, direct contact with a lithium source, and lithium-containing additives. Dose control is generally highest with the electrochemical route and process integration is generally simplest with additives; none of them is best in all cases.
Read the guide →How to Calculate the Lithium Dose for Prelithiation
The dose is dimensioned against the irreversible first-cycle capacity of the specific electrode: measure that capacity per unit area, express it as the equivalent lithium charge, and add it as an areal dose. Because uniformity and losses between treatment and assembly are never perfect, the calculated value is a starting point that has to be verified in cells.
Read the guide →Coulombic Efficiency in Lithium-Ion Cells
Coulombic efficiency is the discharge capacity of a cycle divided by the charge capacity of the same cycle, expressed as a percentage. The first-cycle value is dominated by interphase formation and irreversible lithium loss; the steady-state value in later cycles reflects ongoing side reactions and is a sensitive indicator of cycle life.
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Looking for short definitions instead? The prelithiation glossary covers the individual terms used across these guides.
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