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Lithium cobalt oxide vs NMC cathode

NMC cathode displaced Lithium cobalt oxide, and 1 measured property shows why — density most clearly.

Lithium cobalt oxide vs NMC cathode

Lithium cobalt oxide

LiCoO2

The cathode that made the lithium-ion cell possible in 1980, still in the phone in your pocket, and abandoned everywhere the pack is large.

NMC cathode

LiNiMnCoO2

Nickel, manganese and cobalt in a layered oxide — the high-energy cathode, and a family whose whole recent history is trying to use less cobalt.

Property comparison of Lithium cobalt oxide and NMC cathode
PropertyLithium cobalt oxideNMC cathode
Crystal system

Categorical values can be listed side by side but not ordered or subtracted.

trigonaltrigonal
Density5.1 g/cm³ higher4.6–4.8 g/cm³
Molar mass

Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare.

97.87 g/molNot known

Other comparisons