LTO vs. Niobium
One key advantage of XNO® is its lower environmental impact compared to lithium titanate (LTO) anodes. Independent research conducted by Ghent University found a significant 51% difference in global warming potential (GWP) between the two materials. This makes XNO® a favourable choice for OEMs and cell manufacturers looking to meet carbon neutrality demands and reduce their environmental footprint.
We’ll discuss the following in this guide:
Choosing battery longevity
The choice of materials is crucial for top-notch performance in lithium-ion batteries. Echion Technologies brings Niobium-based XNO® into the spotlight, ready to be compared with the established Lithium Titanate (LTO).
While LTO has been a go-to choice, XNO® offers similar attributes.
Safety
Quick charging
Long cycle life
XNO® stands out in one distinct area; it has almost double the energy density of leading LTO cells. This makes it a great option, especially for heavy-duty batteries in commercial and industrial use.
What is LTO?
Lithium Titanate (LTO) is a commonly used anode material in battery technology. It is known for its highly desirable properties and unique characteristics. LTO is composed of:
Lithium
Oxygen
Titanium
LTO anode materials offer exceptional performance and reliability in battery technology. Their distinctive crystalline structure contributes to their excellent electrochemical performance. With their widespread applications and relevance in the battery industry, LTO significantly enables efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions.
What is Niobium?
Niobium is a chemical element with the symbol Nb and atomic number 41. In battery chemistry, it has emerged as a promising candidate for anode material due to its unique properties. Niobium offers several potential advantages that enhance the performance of battery cells.
Enhanced Stability: Niobium's excellent structural stability prevents electrode degradation during charge and discharge cycles, ensuring prolonged cycle life and battery longevity.
Increased Capacity: Its high energy density allows for the storage of a larger charge, resulting in improved battery performance, meeting the demands of power-intensive electronic devices.
Faster Charging: Niobium's high ionic conductivity and excellent electrochemical behaviour enable faster charge acceptance, which is crucial for applications requiring quick energy replenishment.
Advantages and disadvantages of LTO vs. Niobium
Lithium-titanate (LTO) active anodes address graphite and graphite-silicon's fast charge and cycle life limitations. However, energy density limitations make them challenging to package in mobile industrial and commercial applications.
Niobium-based anode materials, such as Niobium Titanium Oxide (NTO) possess higher volumetric energy densities, storing more energy per unit volume. This makes them particularly useful in applications where space is limited. Niobium-based materials also demonstrate excellent stability, preventing electrode degradation during charge and discharge cycles.
Comparative global warming potential (GWP) for XNO, LTO, and graphite active materials.
Lithium-titanate (LTO)
Advantages
LTO is preferred for high-power, long-life, safety-conscious applications.
It charges at 4-20C, with a long lifetime of 10,000-20,000 cycles.
Compared to graphite, it performs better in low (-30°C) and high (60°C) temperatures.
LTO's high operating voltage (1.55V vs Li/Li+) makes it safer than graphite or silicon-based anodes.
Eliminating the conditions leading to lithium dendrite formation makes LTO less likely to have a significant SEI.
The cells’ long lifetime stems from its near-zero lattice strain, which eliminates failure modes associated with electrode swelling.
Disadvantages
Due to their low ionic and electrical conductivity, LTO materials must be highly engineered to achieve these performance characteristics.
LTO’s primary drawback is its low energy density at the cell level (up to 230Wh/L).
LTO-based cells suffer from gas generation and build-up during cycling, causing cell swelling at high temperatures unless electrolyte additives and protective coatings are used. As a result, cell-level costs increase.
Niobium-based active anode materials
Advantages
Niobium (Nb) has a two-electron redox process (Nb5+ to Nb3+), enabling high specific capacities at moderate operating voltages (~1.6V), avoiding lithium plating safety concerns.
It’s abundant, non-toxic, chemically stable, and environmentally sustainable to source.
Supply chain design provides greater price stability than other volatile battery feedstocks like cobalt and nickel.
Disadvantages
Full commercial deployment and end-user uptake of Nb anodes in Li-ion cells, particularly in e-mobility, have yet to be realised.
XNO key features and benefits
Stable to air, water, and heat, with a long shelf life.
Compatible with both NMP and aqueous electrode preparation methods.
Compatible with various cathode materials (NMC, NCA, LNMO).
High electrode density (3g/cm), with low porosity achievable (<30%).
Structural and chemical stability gives a long cycle life.
Low carbon footprint from the material (~2x lower than LTO or graphite).
Recoverable at the end of life.
Non-toxic and not classified as a dangerous good or substance.
Anode performance summary*
Table 1: Comparison of anodes for Li-ion batteries
| XNO | Graphite | LTO | Silicon | Li metal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charge Timeto 80% SoC CC (mins) | 3-10 | 20-60 | 3-10 | 10-60 | 15-60 |
| Cycle Life (cycles) | Over 10,000 | 500-5,000 | Over 10,000 | 500-1000 | 200-500 |
| Power Density | +++ | ++ | +++ | ++ | ++ |
| Safety | +++ | + | +++ | - | - |
| Temperature range during charging (oC) | -40-60 | -10-60 | -40-60 | -10-60 | -10-60 |
| Cell Energy Density (Wh/L) | Up to 425 | Up to 600 | Up to 230 | Up to 1000 | Up to 1000 |
| Ready for market? | Now | Now | Now | 2025 | 2030+ |
*Dependent on factors like cell design and cycling conditions
Explore XNO® by Echion
A full lifecycle analysis of XNO was completed in 2023 and published in the Journal of Sustainable Materials and Technologies. Compared to LTO batteries, XNO offers a 51% reduction of global warming potential (GWP) on the material production level. It offers 61% lower GWP than LTO batteries on the energy delivery level.
Based on publicly available figures, that also represents a 64% reduction compared to graphite. As markets aim to lower their kgCO2e/product further, selecting the right active anode material is important. This study demonstrates that XNO helps achieve this objective.
Explore the possibilities and join us in revolutionising the battery industry >
