Chemistry: Cathode

Lithium Manganese Oxide LMO Basic Information

LMO

Strength

Weakness

Opportunity

Threat

LMO has better thermal stability compared to NMC and NCA

LMO-based batteries have longer cycle life

Good power density for EVs and power tools

Cost-efficient in production due to low manganese cost

Manganese is more abundant and less toxic than cobalt

LMO is one of the more promising materials for solid-state batteries

High efficiency at low cost

LMO has lower energy density compared to NMC and NCA

Lower charge cutoff voltage at 4.2V

LMO batteries may have a higher rate of self-discharge

LMO may suffer from capacity fade and and poor efficiency at high power

Relatively poor performance at low temperatures

Over long cycles, capacity fade occurs due to structural degradation

LMO batteries balance cost and performance, potentially leading to more affordable EVs

LMO is more sustainable and requires no cobalt

LMO stability could be interesting for solid-state batteries

Partnerships with OEM could increase LMO adoption

The rise of electric two wheelers, light vehicles, and drones presents an opportunity for LMO technology

Rapid advances in more mature chemistries, such as NCA, NMC and LMFP

With consumer demand for long-range EVs, higher energy CAM, such as NMC or NCA might outpace LMO

LMFP has lower costs and better thermostability and performance

Since manganese is more abundant, its extraction might lead to greater environmental impact and pollution

Source: Battery Report 2023 (pg130),

Lithium manganese oxide LMO Originating from John B. Goodenoughʼs group, LMO emerged into the market in early 1990s and was used in earlier generations of the Nissan Leaf. Advantage: LMOʼs advantages lie in its cost-effectiveness, safety, and environmental benefits, as well as the fact that it avoids the use of scarce and expensive materials, such as cobalt or nickel. LMO does not current have a big market share: LMO suffers from short cycle life due to high self-discharge rate and capacity fade over many charge/discharge cycles, caused by manganese dissolution and structural degradation. However, some companies have been able to manage this issue with a variety of techniques.

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