Lithium hexafluorophosphate

Lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6, CAS 21324-40-3) is an inorganic lithium salt composed of a lithium cation paired with a hexafluorophosphate anion. It carries no assigned E-code and is not classified as a food additive. In technical literature it is consistently abbreviated as LiPF6.

In electronics manufacturing, LiPF6 serves as the primary electrolyte salt in lithium-ion battery cells, where it dissociates in organic carbonate solvents to provide the lithium-ion conductivity required for charge and discharge cycles. It is also evaluated in antimicrobial formulations, where the hexafluorophosphate anion disrupts microbial membrane integrity.

LiPF6 is supplied as a white crystalline powder in battery-grade and technical-grade specifications, with purity levels typically at or above 99.9% for electrochemical applications. The substance is registered under REACH and subject to standard handling controls for reactive fluorine-containing compounds. Packaging is available in moisture-sealed containers to prevent hydrolytic degradation.