We have discussed ternary battery that contains 3 metal elements in its cathode before. This time, we will learn about quaternary battery, an advancement on the ternary battery; What it is and what its characteristics are.
What is a Quaternary Battery?
A quaternary battery refers to a battery with 4 metal elements in its cathode, adding one more element than the ternary battery that is based on lithium cobalt oxide (LCO). One of the most known quaternary batteries is an NCMA battery where aluminum (Al) is added to an NCM (nickel, cobalt and manganese) ternary battery.
Characteristics of Quaternary Batteries
An NCMA battery can have a higher capacity as it can have higher nickel content. Manganese improves the safety while aluminum raises the output and safety of the quaternary battery. It can also push down the cost, because it allows to reduce the content of pricey cobalt. In addition, it can be applied to all types of batteries such as button cell, prismatic and pouch batteries.
These advantages have earned quaternary batteries a lot of attention. If you remember each metal element contained in the cathode of a quaternary battery and their characteristics, you will be able to identify the combination and characteristics of the cathodes when you see a battery name with additional letters in future.