Lithium vs Lithium Salt: What’s the Difference?

By Ufine, Updated on April 16, 2025

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Part 1. What is lithium?
Part 2. What are lithium salts?
Part 3. Why are lithium salts essential in battery production?
Part 4. How is lithium converted into lithium salts?
Part 5. What's the key difference between lithium and lithium salts?
Part 6. Why not use pure lithium metal in all batteries?
Part 7. Which lithium salt is best for batteries?
Part 8. How are lithium salts stored and handled in factories?
Part 9. Are lithium salts used outside of batteries?
Part 10. The future of lithium salts in energy storage
Part 11. FAQs about lithium and lithium salt

What is the difference between lithium and lithium salts in battery manufacturing?

Answer: Lithium is a pure metal element, while lithium salts are stable chemical compounds used in battery materials. The key difference lies in their form and application in lithium-ion battery production.

In the world of lithium-ion batteries, a common question arises:

Is there a difference between lithium and lithium salts?

Absolutely. Understanding this difference is essential for anyone working in or interested in battery technology. Knowing how lithium and its salts behave and function can impact everything from performance to cost, energy storage systems, and electric vehicles.

This article is your complete guide to lithium vs lithium salts — what they are, how they’re used, and why this distinction matters in the battery industry.

Part 1. What is lithium?

Lithium is a naturally occurring chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It’s a soft, silver-white metal and is the lightest metal known to science.

Most importantly for battery manufacturers, lithium is:

Highly reactive
Has a low atomic mass
Excellent for electrochemical applications

However, pure lithium metal is rarely used directly in its elemental form in batteries due to its high reactivity with air and moisture. This makes it both challenging to store and dangerous to handle in large-scale production.

Part 2. What are lithium salts?

Lithium salts are chemical compounds made when lithium metal reacts with other elements such as fluorine, oxygen, chlorine, or phosphorus. These salts are much more stable than pure lithium and are the primary form of lithium used in battery materials.

Common lithium salts in battery manufacturing include:

Lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃)
Lithium hydroxide (LiOH)
Lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆)
Lithium chloride (LiCl)

Each salt has different properties that make it suitable for specific roles in lithium battery chemistry.

Part 3. Why are lithium salts essential in battery production?

In battery manufacturing, lithium salts are essential for the following components:

1. Cathode materials

Lithium salts like lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide are used to manufacture lithium metal oxides, including:
- Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC)
- Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
- Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO)

2. Electrolytes

Lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆) is lithium-ion batteries’ most widely used electrolyte salt.
It helps transport lithium ions between the anode and cathode during charging and discharging.

3. Battery stability and performance

The choice of lithium salt affects:
- Cycle life
- Thermal stability
- Charging speed
- Safety

Part 4. How is lithium converted into lithium salts?

Lithium is typically extracted from two primary sources:

Brine pools (e.g., salt flats in South America)
Hard rock mining (e.g., spodumene in Australia)

Once extracted, lithium undergoes chemical processing to convert it into usable salts. For example:

Lithium carbonate is made by reacting lithium concentrate with sodium carbonate.
Lithium hydroxide is produced by reacting lithium carbonate with lime (Ca(OH)₂).
LiPF₆ is synthesized through complex chemical reactions involving phosphorus pentachloride and lithium fluoride.

The final product is refined to battery-grade purity, often reaching 99.5% or higher, critical for consistent battery performance.

Part 5. What’s the key difference between lithium and lithium salts?

Short answer: Lithium is a metal element, while lithium salts are chemical compounds used in industrial applications, especially batteries.

Property	Lithium Metal	Lithium Salts
Form	Pure element (Li)	Compounds (e.g., Li₂CO₃, LiOH, LiPF₆)
Stability	Highly reactive	More chemically stable
Use in batteries	Limited (mainly some solid-state)	Widely used in cathodes & electrolytes
Handling requirements	Strict safety controls	Easier to store and transport
Role in battery chemistry	Direct lithium source	Functional material in battery components

Understanding this distinction helps battery producers choose the right material for their application.

Part 6. Why not use pure lithium metal in all batteries?

While lithium metal offers high energy density, it also presents serious safety risks:

Reacts violently with moisture and air
Can form dendrites, which cause short circuits in batteries
Requires special handling and storage solutions

That’s why most current lithium-ion batteries use lithium salts, which are safer and more stable, especially for commercial and consumer applications.

However, research into solid-state batteries may bring lithium metal back into the spotlight due to its potential for higher energy storage.

Part 7. Which lithium salt is best for batteries?

There is no “one-size-fits-all” answer. The best lithium salt depends on the battery type and the intended use.

For cathodes:

Lithium carbonate is popular for LFP and NMC cathodes.
Lithium hydroxide, like NCA and some NMC formulations, is preferred for high-nickel cathodes.

For electrolytes:

LiPF₆ remains the industry standard due to its balance of performance and cost.
Alternatives like LiFSI and LiTFSI are gaining attention for their thermal and chemical stability in next-gen batteries.

Part 8. How are lithium salts stored and handled in factories?

Battery-grade lithium salts are stored in dry, controlled environments to prevent:

Moisture absorption (many salts are hygroscopic)
Contamination, which can reduce battery performance
Chemical degradation

Manufacturers use sealed containers, dry rooms, and specialized equipment to ensure maximum purity.

Part 9. Are lithium salts used outside of batteries?

Yes, but in this article, we focus on their industrial and battery-related uses. While lithium salts do have applications in pharmaceuticals and glassmaking, these are secondary markets compared to their dominant role in energy storage.

We won’t discuss medical or ceramic uses here for clarity and relevance to battery manufacturing.