Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄)

Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) is a high-purity olivine cathode powder engineered for the demanding cycle-life, safety, and cost requirements of modern lithium-ion battery manufacturing. Free of cobalt and nickel, it delivers a stable 3.2-3.4 V discharge plateau vs. Li/Li+ with practical specific capacities of 150-160 mAh/g and cycle lives routinely exceeding 2,000-3,000 charge-discharge cycles. Its olivine phosphate framework is exceptionally resistant to thermal runaway and oxygen release under abuse conditions, making it the safety benchmark among commercial cathode chemistries. Supplied as a fine, carbon-coated free-flowing powder rather than a sintered target, it is manufactured under tight particle-size and carbon-content control for direct use in slurry coating and electrode processing.

Surface Area (m²/g) :	N/A
Particle Size d₅₀ (μm) :	<3
Purity (%) :	>99.8

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Description

Introduction to Lithium Iron Phosphate Powder

Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP, LiFePO₄) is an olivine-structured cathode material with an orthorhombic Pnma crystal structure, featuring FeO₆ octahedra and rigid PO₄ tetrahedra that strongly stabilise the oxygen framework. The Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ redox couple provides an operating voltage near 3.4 V, while the phosphate framework offers excellent thermal and chemical stability with minimal oxygen release under abuse conditions. Its main limitations are low intrinsic electronic conductivity and one-dimensional Li⁺ diffusion, which are addressed through nanoscale particle engineering and conductive carbon coatings. Supplied as fine, carbon-coated powder, LFP is readily processed into cathode slurries for electrode coating and calendaring. It is widely used in electric vehicles, energy-storage systems, power tools, and other lithium-ion applications prioritizing safety, long cycle life, and cost efficiency.

FAQs

Question: What is Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)?

Answer: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) is an inorganic compound widely used in battery systems. It is known for its safety, long lifespan, and stability.

Question: Why is LiFePO4 considered safer than other lithium-ion batteries?

Answer: LiFePO4 has a comparatively low coefficient of heat conductivity. Thus, it will not overheat and combust, making it safe for many uses.

Question: How many charge-discharge cycles can LiFePO4 batteries typically handle?

Answer: LiFePO4 batteries can withstand over 2000 charge-discharge cycles. Therefore, it is very durable.

Question: How do LiFePO4 batteries contribute to energy stability?

Answer: LiFePO4 batteries help stabilize electricity supply by storing excess energy generated during low demand and releasing it during peak demand periods, enhancing grid reliability.

Question: What are the limitations of LiFePO4?

Answer: Its energy density is less than other lithium-ion materials, which may restrict its application in some high-energy systems.

Introduction to Lithium Iron Phosphate Powder

Property	Value	Significance
CAS Number	15365-14-7	Unique regulatory and safety-documentation identifier for procurement, SDS, and customs classification
Molar Mass	157.76 g/mol	Governs stoichiometric slurry formulation and electrode-loading calculations
Crystal Structure	Orthorhombic olivine (Pnma)	Covalently bonded PO4 framework locks oxygen in place, underpinning LFP’s exceptional thermal and chemical stability
Voltage Plateau	3.2 – 3.4 V vs. Li/Li+	Flat, well-defined two-phase discharge plateau simplifies state-of-charge estimation and cell balancing.
Specific Capacity	150 – 160 mAh/g practical (170 mAh/g theoretical)	Sets achievable cell-level energy density and directly drives electrode formulation and loading targets
Thermal Stability	Decomposition onset approx. 270 DegC+; no oxygen release under abuse	Major safety advantage over layered oxides (LCO, NMC, NCA), which release oxygen and drive thermal runaway at much lower temperatures
Particle Size (D50)	0.3 – 3 µm, grade dependent	Shorter Li+/electron diffusion paths in finer grades improve rate capability and power performance
Purity	99.5% – 99.9%+	Minimises electrochemically inactive impurities and transition-metal contaminants that degrade capacity and cycle life

Property

Value

Significance

CAS Number

15365-14-7

Unique regulatory and safety-documentation identifier for procurement, SDS, and customs classification

Molar Mass

157.76 g/mol

Governs stoichiometric slurry formulation and electrode-loading calculations

Crystal Structure

Orthorhombic olivine (Pnma)

Covalently bonded PO4 framework locks oxygen in place, underpinning LFP’s exceptional thermal and chemical stability

Voltage Plateau

3.2 – 3.4 V vs. Li/Li+

Flat, well-defined two-phase discharge plateau simplifies state-of-charge estimation and cell balancing.

Specific Capacity

150 – 160 mAh/g practical (170 mAh/g theoretical)

Sets achievable cell-level energy density and directly drives electrode formulation and loading targets

Thermal Stability

Decomposition onset approx. 270 DegC+; no oxygen release under abuse

Major safety advantage over layered oxides (LCO, NMC, NCA), which release oxygen and drive thermal runaway at much lower temperatures

Particle Size (D50)

0.3 – 3 µm, grade dependent

Shorter Li+/electron diffusion paths in finer grades improve rate capability and power performance

Purity

99.5% – 99.9%+

Minimises electrochemically inactive impurities and transition-metal contaminants that degrade capacity and cycle life

Grade / Form	Typical Purity	Key Features / Uses
Standard Coated Powder	99.5% – 99.8%	1.0-1.5 wt% carbon coating, D50 approx. 1-3 µm; general-purpose grade for power-tool and stationary-storage cells
EV/High-Press-Density Grade	99.8%+	Optimised particle morphology for press/tap density >2.4-2.6 g/cm3, boosting volumetric energy density for automotive cells
High-Power/Fine-Particle Grade	99.5% – 99.9%	D50 <1 µm with higher carbon content (up to approx. 2 wt%) for maximum rate capability in power-tool and fast-charge applications
Single-Crystal LFP	99.9%+	Larger, low-defect primary crystallites for improved cycling stability and reduced gas generation versus polycrystalline agglomerates
Battery-Grade Bulk/Production Lot	99.5% – 99.8%	Cost-optimised composition for gigafactory-scale slurry mixing where volumetric consistency matters more than peak rate performance

Grade / Form

Typical Purity

Key Features / Uses

Standard Coated Powder

99.5% – 99.8%

1.0-1.5 wt% carbon coating, D50 approx. 1-3 µm; general-purpose grade for power-tool and stationary-storage cells

EV/High-Press-Density Grade

99.8%+

Optimised particle morphology for press/tap density >2.4-2.6 g/cm3, boosting volumetric energy density for automotive cells

High-Power/Fine-Particle Grade

99.5% – 99.9%

D50 <1 µm with higher carbon content (up to approx. 2 wt%) for maximum rate capability in power-tool and fast-charge applications

Single-Crystal LFP

99.9%+

Larger, low-defect primary crystallites for improved cycling stability and reduced gas generation versus polycrystalline agglomerates

Battery-Grade Bulk/Production Lot

99.5% – 99.8%

Cost-optimised composition for gigafactory-scale slurry mixing where volumetric consistency matters more than peak rate performance

Industry	Application	Function
Electric Vehicles	Standard-range and mass-market EV battery packs	Cobalt-free chemistry delivers a lower-cost, thermally stable pack with long cycle life, now the dominant chemistry across much of the global EV market.
Grid & Renewable Energy Storage	Utility-scale and behind-the-meter battery energy storage systems (BESS)	Long cycle life, thermal stability, and low cost per cycle outweigh LFP’s lower energy density in stationary applications where volume/weight is less constrained
Power Tools	Cordless drills, saws, and other high-drain handheld equipment	High-rate carbon-coated grades sustain the repeated high-current pulses power tools demand without excessive heat generation
E-Mobility	E-bikes, e-scooters, and light electric vehicles	Favourable safety profile and cycle life reduce total cost of ownership for high-duty-cycle micromobility fleets.
Backup & Telecom Power	Communication equipment and UPS backup batteries	Wide thermal operating window and long calendar life suit unattended, safety-critical standby installations
Portable & Medical Electronics	Medical monitoring equipment and portable consumer devices	Non-toxic, cobalt-free composition combined with a strong safety record supports use in equipment requiring high reliability and reduced regulatory/handling burden

Industry

Application

Function

Electric Vehicles

Standard-range and mass-market EV battery packs

Cobalt-free chemistry delivers a lower-cost, thermally stable pack with long cycle life, now the dominant chemistry across much of the global EV market.

Grid & Renewable Energy Storage

Utility-scale and behind-the-meter battery energy storage systems (BESS)

Long cycle life, thermal stability, and low cost per cycle outweigh LFP’s lower energy density in stationary applications where volume/weight is less constrained

Power Tools

Cordless drills, saws, and other high-drain handheld equipment

High-rate carbon-coated grades sustain the repeated high-current pulses power tools demand without excessive heat generation

E-Mobility

E-bikes, e-scooters, and light electric vehicles

Favourable safety profile and cycle life reduce total cost of ownership for high-duty-cycle micromobility fleets.

Backup & Telecom Power

Communication equipment and UPS backup batteries

Wide thermal operating window and long calendar life suit unattended, safety-critical standby installations

Portable & Medical Electronics

Medical monitoring equipment and portable consumer devices

Non-toxic, cobalt-free composition combined with a strong safety record supports use in equipment requiring high reliability and reduced regulatory/handling burden