Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the most common type of rechargeable batteries. The lithium ion is responsible for charge transfer within these batteries. Lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) is the main conductive salt used in LIBs. However, LiPF6 tends to decompose at elevated temperatures, or it can react with traces of water to form toxic HF. Therefore, lithium borate salts or imide-based lithium salts are used as additives to the electrolyte to improve its performance.
With ion chromatography (IC), it is possible to quantify the amount of different lithium salts by determining the anion concentration in the different salts. The anions are separated on a Metrosep A Supp 5 - 250/4.0 column and detected by applying conductivity detection after sequential suppression.