Battery Cathodes

The cathode sets the cell voltage, defines the practical capacity, and dictates which manufacturing solvent and binder you must build the rest of the electrode around. This collection groups the active powders, pre-coated electrode sheets, and the slurry solvent that go into the positive side of lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and aqueous zinc-ion cells — organized by crystal-structure family so you can match material to your target chemistry without crossing classes.

Layered oxides (Li-ion)

The mainstream high-energy family for Li-ion. Polycrystalline and single-crystal NCM grades sit on a 2D layered framework and trade off nickel content against cycle life and thermal stability. Single-crystal morphologies eliminate internal grain boundaries, which suppresses the microcracking and gas generation that limit polycrystalline high-Ni cathodes. Lithium-rich layered oxides extend specific capacity by activating the LiMnO3-like component at high voltage, at the cost of more demanding voltage windows and surface treatments such as alumina coatings.

Spinel oxides (Li-ion)

Spinel LNMO uses a 3D framework that opens fast Li-ion pathways and supports a ~5 V plateau, making it a cobalt-free option when high power and high voltage matter more than absolute energy density. Pair with electrolytes and binders rated for high-voltage operation.

Polyanion cathodes (Li-ion and Na-ion)

Olivine LFP gives a flat, safe ~3.4 V plateau; nano-structured grades shorten the 1D Li diffusion path for high-rate and wide-temperature use. NASICON-structured Li3V2(PO4)3 (LVP) and the sodium-side Na3V2(PO4)2F3 (NVPF) and related NVP frameworks offer rigid 3D ion channels, strong thermal stability, and — for the fluorinated sodium grades — elevated voltage plateaus near 3.8 V.

Na-ion layered oxides

P2-type Na2/3Ni1/3Mn2/3O2 uses trigonal prismatic Na sites that lower the diffusion barrier, supporting good rate capability on earth-abundant Mn and Na chemistry.

Pre-coated cathode sheets and slurry solvent

For aqueous Zn-ion testing we stock single-side and double-side coated electrodes such as gamma-MnO2 on SS316 foil and I2 on mesh Ti, sized for coin and pouch formats. For your own slurry work, anhydrous NMP dissolves PVDF cleanly for coating onto aluminum current collectors.

If you are screening high-energy Li-ion, start with the layered NCM and lithium-rich grades; for high-voltage or cobalt-free targets, see the spinel and polyanion families; for sodium-ion and aqueous Zn-ion work, jump to the Na-ion and pre-coated sections above.