1. Why Batteries Seem to “Wear Out” Why does a phone feel less durable after two or three years? Why does an electric vehicle’s range slowly shrink? Behind both lies a cause that few people know about: the active lithium that “carries” a battery’s charge is gradually consumed. A lithium-ion battery works by shuttling lithium ions back and forth between the positive and negative electrodes. These shuttling ions are called active lithium, and almost all of it is initially stored in the cathode material. Every bit of active lithium lost means a bit less battery capacity. During the first charge, a protective film, called the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), forms on the surface of the anode and permanently “swallows” part of the lithium supplied by the cathode. It is like opening a new account and being charged a fee before you have used it, and a little more lithium continues to be lost with every subsequent cycle. 2. Prelithiation: Paying the “Fee” in Advance Prel...
From Prelithiation to Presodiation: A Materials Approach Redefining the Lifespan Limits of Batterie (Video)
Lithium squarate (Li₂C₄O₄) is a new cathode prelithiation additive that releases active lithium during the first charge to offset losses. It leaves only about 19% residue by weight, is a neutral salt that does not react with water or air, and can be added directly during cathode slurry mixing with no changes to the production line. Under ChemWhat brand authorization, Watson is producing high-purity lithium squarate (Li₂C₄O₄) raw material in volume for partners worldwide, and is extending the same approach to develop sodium squarate (Na₂C₄O₄) for sodium batteries.
