Encyclopedia Article

Glossary and Resources

Search key terms, filter by topic, and review common battery reference values.

materials

Anode

The electrode that hosts lithium during charge in a typical lithium-ion cell.

materials

Cathode

The electrode that receives lithium during discharge and strongly influences voltage and capacity.

materials

Electrolyte

Ion-conducting medium between electrodes; commonly liquid, sometimes solid or gel.

materials

Separator

Porous membrane that keeps electrodes apart while allowing ions to pass.

safety

SEI

Solid electrolyte interphase: a protective layer that forms on the anode and affects lifetime.

safety

Dendrite

Needle-like lithium growth that can create short-circuit risks in some conditions.

systems

BMS

Battery management system that monitors and protects cells and packs.

systems

C-rate

Charge or discharge rate relative to capacity; 1C means full nominal capacity in one hour.

chemistry

LFP

Lithium iron phosphate chemistry valued for safety, durability, and cost.

chemistry

NMC

Nickel manganese cobalt oxide chemistry used for balanced energy and power.

chemistry

LTO

Lithium titanate anode chemistry known for fast charging and long life.

manufacturing

Formation

Initial controlled cycling used to create stable interphase layers in new cells.

Common battery quantities

QuantityMeaningTypical use
WhWatt-hour, unit of energyDevice runtime and pack size
WWatt, unit of powerMotor output or charger power
Cycle lifeNumber of useful charge-discharge cyclesLifetime comparison
State of chargeEstimated remaining chargeBMS and user interface

Common questions

No. Chemistries, formats, control systems, and operating conditions vary widely.

It recovers materials, reduces waste, and can lower pressure on mining and refining supply chains.

They may serve important markets, but cost, manufacturing scale, lifetime, and safety validation will determine adoption.