Lithium carbonate

Lithium carbonate (CAS 554-13-2), also referred to commercially as Li2CO3, is an inorganic lithium salt used in battery manufacturing, ceramics, and pharmaceutical production.

Where is Lithium carbonate used?

• Battery manufacturing: precursor for cathode active materials such as lithium iron phosphate and lithium cobalt oxide
• Ceramics and glass: lowers melting temperatures and improves thermal stability in specialty frits, glazes, and glass-ceramics
• Pharmaceuticals: active substance in mood-stabilizing formulations for bipolar disorder treatment
• Lubricants: reacts with fatty acids to form the thickener structure in lithium-based greases
• It functions as a lithium source, flux agent, and pH buffer depending on the processing environment.

Good to know: Battery-grade material is produced to tight purity specifications, typically exceeding 99.5 percent purity levels. Pharmaceutical-grade supply conforms to USP, BP, and Ph. Eur. monographs for global compliance.

Commercial specifications

• Battery grade: purity typically exceeding 99.5 percent
• Controlled limits on sodium, calcium, and sulfate impurities