Battery cathode materials: Characteristics
The density and purity numbers that decide which powder wins
What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.Cathode makers sell on electrochemical performance and purity. Specific capacity, compaction density, particle size and impurity limits decide whether a cell maker will qualify a powder. Qualification takes many months, so customers rarely switch suppliers for small price gains.
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specific capacity | LFP about 155-160 mAh/g (China's export control threshold is 156 mAh/g); NMC811 about 200 mAh/g (indicative) | Sets cell energy | MOFCOM and GAC Announcement No. 58 of 2025 via HSF Kramer (Oct 2025); NMC value indicative |
| Compaction density | LFP high-grade at least 2.5 g/cm3 | Higher density packs more energy per cell volume | MOFCOM and GAC Announcement No. 58 of 2025 via HSF Kramer (Oct 2025) |
| Nickel content | NMC523 50%, 622 60%, 811 80%, 9-series 90% of transition metals | More nickel gives more energy but less stability | naming convention |
| Magnetic impurities and moisture | ppb-level magnetic particles; low moisture for high-nickel (indicative) | Prevents internal short circuits | Indicative |
Commercial grades
- LFP power grade and storage grade (long-life)
- High-compaction LFP (2.5 g/cm3 and above)
- NMC523, 622, 811, 9-series; single-crystal NMC
- NCA (Panasonic/Tesla)
- LCO high-voltage
- LMFP and blends
- LMO