Noah Chemicals supplies the battery-grade inorganic precursors that cathode active material (CAM) producers, electrolyte formulators, and battery cell manufacturers depend on. Lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and vanadium chemistries ship from our San Antonio, Texas operation with a Certificate of Analysis on every lot that includes the ICP-OES trace-metal panel data battery-grade buyers need.
Cathode: the positive electrode in a battery, and the chemistry that largely determines a cell's energy density, voltage, and lifespan.
Cathode Active Material (CAM): the formulated powder that fills a battery's cathode role. CAM determines a cell's storage capacity, voltage, and cycle life. NMC, NCA, LFP, LMO, and LCO are all examples of cathode active materials, each produced from specific lithium and transition-metal precursors.
Anode: the negative electrode, which stores ions during charging and releases them during discharge.
Electrolyte: the medium between the electrodes that ions travel through. It can be a liquid, gel, or solid depending on the battery type.
Electrode: the collective term for the cathode and anode, the two poles that store and release a battery's energy.
Six cell architectures and storage platforms define the battery and grid-storage buildout today, each with distinct chemistry requirements. Find your platform below to see which Noah Chemicals materials it depends on, then jump to the detailed material specifications.
NMC and NCA are layered transition-metal oxide cathodes that deliver the highest gravimetric energy density in the lithium-ion family. These are the workhorse chemistries for EV packs and consumer electronics. The push toward high-nickel formulations (NMC 811, NMC 955) is driving demand for tightly specified Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate, which enables the calcination conditions that carbonate cannot support at high nickel content.
LFP cathodes use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) for a thermally stable, cobalt-free chemistry that has captured the majority of stationary storage and entry-tier EV deployments. The cost and safety profile makes LFP the leading chemistry for utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) buildouts.
Sodium-ion cells substitute earth-abundant sodium for lithium, opening a path around the lithium and cobalt supply constraints driving cathode pricing. Layered oxide and Prussian-blue analog cathodes are reaching commercial production for stationary storage and low-cost mobility applications.
VRFBs store energy in two tanks of vanadium ions dissolved in sulfuric acid, with V²⁺/V³⁺ on the negative side and V⁴⁺/V⁵⁺ on the positive, separated by an ion-exchange membrane. Standard cell potential is ~1.26 V; open-circuit voltage at full charge runs 1.35 to 1.4 V. Energy density is ~20 Wh/L, which is why VRFBs own the 4 to 12 hour grid storage duration band that lithium-ion cannot serve economically.
LTO (Li4Ti5O12) replaces graphite as the anode active material, intercalating lithium at approximately 1.55 V vs. Li/Li+, above the plating threshold, which eliminates lithium dendrite formation. The tradeoff is lower energy density, which is why LTO excels in fast-charge transit batteries, grid frequency response, AGVs, and military applications where longevity and safety outweigh density.
Solid-state batteries replace liquid electrolytes with ceramic or polymer solid electrolytes, enabling higher energy density, broader operating temperature ranges, and elimination of flammable solvents. Oxide-based solid electrolytes such as LLZO (Li7La3Zr2O12, a garnet-phase ceramic that conducts lithium ions without flammable solvents) are driving strong demand for ultra-high-purity Lanthanum Oxide and Zirconium Oxide as co-precursors for garnet-phase electrolyte synthesis.
Each cell architecture imposes different purity, particle size, and trace-metal tolerances on its cathode and electrolyte feedstock. This table summarizes the active chemistry and the Noah-supplied materials for each platform.
| Architecture | Electrolyte | Cathode | Anode / Other | Noah Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMC / NCA Lithium-Ion | LiPF6 in carbonate solvents | LiNixMnyCozO2 | Graphite or Si-graphite | LiOH·H2O, Li2CO3, NiSO4, Co(OH)2, MnCO3 |
| LFP Lithium-Ion | LiPF6 in carbonate solvents | LiFePO4 | Graphite | Li2CO3, LiOH·H2O, FePO4, Fe |
| Sodium-Ion | NaPF6 in carbonate solvents | Layered Na-oxide / Prussian-blue analog | Hard carbon | Na2CO3, NaVO3, MnO, Ni(OH)2 |
| Vanadium Redox Flow | 1-3 M Vn+ in H2SO4 | Soluble V4+/V5+ couple | Soluble V2+/V3+ couple | V2O5, NH4VO3, NaVO3 |
| LTO (Lithium Titanate) | LiPF6 in carbonate solvents | LiMn2O4 or NMC | Li4Ti5O12 (zero-strain spinel) | Li2CO3, TiO2 |
| Solid-State | Ceramic/oxide solid electrolyte (LLZO) | NMC or LFP | Lithium metal or Si | La2O3, ZrO2, Al2O3, LiOH·H2O |
Cathode capacity, electrolyte stability, and cycle life all start with the right precursor. Every material below is stocked at battery-grade purity and ships with full documentation.
Each material below ships with a Certificate of Analysis covering particle size distribution, tap density, and ICP-OES trace-metal panel. These specifications give cathode makers, electrolyte formulators, and pack integrators the data they need to qualify and reorder without retesting.
Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate (LiOH·H2O) is the preferred lithium source for high-nickel NMC and NCA cathodes because its low melting point (462°C) lets calcination run cleanly within the 700-780°C window where the layered cathode structure forms without lithium loss. Lithium carbonate, by comparison, requires temperatures above 720°C to fully decompose, pushing calcination closer to the 800°C threshold where high-nickel layered oxides begin losing lithium and disordering. Noah supplies battery-grade LiOH·H2O at 99.9% purity, with the sub-ppm sodium, potassium, magnesium, and iron tolerances cathode plants need for high capacity retention at extended cycle counts. The cathode mix is shifting toward NMC 811 and NMC 955 formulations, and that shift is what is pulling lithium hydroxide ahead of carbonate as the preferred lithium feedstock. We also supply anhydrous LiOH for solid-state cathode and electrolyte work.
Lithium Carbonate (Li2CO3) is the dominant lithium source for LFP, LMO, and mid-nickel NMC cathodes because the carbonate route is well-tooled across calcination kilns and the cost per lithium atom delivered is the lowest of any battery-grade lithium salt. Li2CO3 melts at 723°C and decomposes into Li2O and CO2 during cathode firing, which is why LFP synthesis runs at 650 to 750°C under inert or reducing atmosphere (N2 or Ar) and LMO at 750 to 850°C in air. Noah supplies Li2CO3 at multiple grades, including battery-grade and ACS Reagent at -40 mesh for cathode work, R&D, and pilot programs. Tight control on sodium, calcium, and sulfate is what separates battery-grade carbonate from technical-grade material. Loose calcium specs contaminate cathode surfaces and accelerate electrolyte decomposition. We also supply 99% pure -200 mesh Li2CO3 for solid-state electrolyte synthesis (LLZO, LATP, LLTO) and ceramic precursor work, where particle size matters more than ultra-trace metal control.
Nickel (II) Sulfate Hexahydrate (NiSO4·6H2O) is the workhorse feedstock for the coprecipitation route to NMC and NCA cathode precursors. Inside a continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR), stoichiometric Ni-Mn-Co sulfate solutions are titrated against sodium hydroxide and ammonia at pH 10.5 to 11.5 and 50 to 60°C, with the ammonia acting as a chelating agent that slows nucleation and lets dense spherical hydroxide particles grow at 800 to 1,200 rpm stirring. Noah supplies battery-grade NiSO4 with sub-ppm iron, copper, and zinc tolerances because each of those impurities will sit on cathode primary particle surfaces and accelerate self-discharge. We deliver as both 2.5% elemental nickel solution for direct precursor reactor charging and crystalline hexahydrate for solid-handling lines.
Cobalt (II) Hydroxide (Co(OH)2) is the cobalt feedstock used in NMC and NCA cathode production because the hydroxide route bypasses the sulfate-bound water and chloride contamination that solution chemistries carry into the calcination step. Sulfur impurities in transition-metal precursors decompose above 750°C and generate SOx gas during sintering, leaving micro-pores that reduce volumetric energy density and residual Li2SO4 surface contamination. Noah supplies Co(OH)2 at 99.9% purity in -10 mesh, with the iron, nickel, and zinc trace-metal panel pinned at the sub-ppm level required for cathode precursor work. We also supply Cobalt (II) Chloride Hexahydrate at ACS Reagent grade for catalyst and solution-phase battery research workflows.
Manganese (II) Carbonate (MnCO3) is a manganese feedstock for NMC cathode production, used either in carbonate coprecipitation (where it helps keep manganese in the stable Mn2+ state that hydroxide routes oxidize unpredictably to Mn3+ or Mn4+) or in solid-state synthesis after thermal decomposition. The decomposition runs in stages: water and surface hydrates leave at 100 to 160°C, CO2 evolves at 300 to 450°C as the carbonate backbone collapses into manganese oxide, and the resulting oxide is then sintered with the lithium source and nickel/cobalt precursors at 750 to 950°C for 10 to 15 hours. Noah supplies MnCO3 at 99.95% purity, -200 mesh, with the iron, copper, and zinc trace-metal tolerances cathode plants need to keep capacity fade in check. Mid-nickel NMC formulations such as NMC 333, 523, and 622 carry the highest manganese content and the largest MnCO3 throughput requirements. The cathode roadmap shift toward NMC 811 reduces per-cell manganese demand but does not eliminate it, and manganese remains the cost and safety stabilizer in the NMC family.
Iron (III) Phosphate (FePO4) is the iron and phosphate source for Lithium Iron Phosphate cathode production, the cobalt-free chemistry that captures stationary energy storage and entry-tier EV deployments. LFP synthesis runs as a two-step heat treatment under inert or reducing atmosphere (N2, Ar, or Ar/H2): a 300 to 400°C pre-calcination drives off volatiles and decomposes the carbon coating precursor, followed by 650 to 750°C final calcination that crystallizes the orthorhombic olivine phase (LiFePO4, Pnma symmetry) and carbothermically reduces Fe3+ to Fe2+. Above 800°C, grain growth and carbon network degradation slow lithium-ion diffusion. Noah supplies FePO4 at -325 mesh with tight control on the sulfur and chloride contamination that disqualifies material at the calcination step. The cost and safety profile of LFP is why it has become the leading chemistry for utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) deployments.
Vanadium Pentoxide (V2O5) is the precursor for vanadium electrolyte in Redox Flow Batteries (VRFBs). Standard VRFB electrolyte runs 1.5 to 2.0 M total vanadium in 2.0 to 3.0 M sulfuric acid, which translates to roughly 0.8 M V2O5 (~145 g per liter) as the starting powder. Noah supplies V2O5 at 99.99% purity, -20 mesh, which is reduced into solution by either oxalic acid (which degrades cleanly to CO2 and water, leaving zero residue) or by electrolytic dissolution that drives vanadium to the V3.5+ baseline state used to charge a VRFB stack. Because the same element handles both positive and negative half-cells, minor crossover through the ion-exchange membrane does not permanently degrade the system. The electrolyte can be electrochemically rebalanced rather than replaced.
Potassium Chloride (KCl) functions as a supporting electrolyte salt in zinc-bromine flow batteries (ZBFBs), where it provides mobile K+ and Cl- ions that cut ohmic resistance and lift system energy efficiency from roughly 60% to 74-82% under aggressive current density. Chloride does not interfere with the Br-/Br2 charging chemistry because chlorine's higher reduction potential (+1.36 V vs. SHE) keeps it from oxidizing at the positive electrode. Noah supplies KCl at 99.999% purity, -20 mesh, with the trace-metal tolerances flow battery electrolyte formulators need for stable ionic conductivity at scale. KCl is also used as a reference electrode component (Ag/AgCl) in battery test cells and as an ionic conductivity additive in select solid-state electrolyte research workflows.
Four structural advantages that matter to battery and energy storage buyers: defense and government programs, OEMs qualifying for IRA domestic content incentives, and any program that cannot afford supply-chain surprises at scale.
Cathode active material (CAM) is the formulated powder used to build a battery's cathode, the positive electrode that determines storage capacity, voltage, and cycle life.
Noah supplies the lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese precursors that feed CAM production at battery grade with ICP-OES validation on every lot.
A flow battery is an electrochemical energy storage system that stores energy in liquid electrolyte tanks rather than solid electrodes, allowing power and energy capacity to scale independently.
Noah supplies Vanadium (V) Oxide, Ammonium Metavanadate, and Sodium Metavanadate as upstream feedstocks for vanadium redox flow battery electrolyte production.
A vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) is a flow battery that uses the same element, vanadium, on both sides of the cell, exploiting vanadium's four soluble oxidation states (V2+, V3+, V4+, V5+).
Noah supplies battery-grade Vanadium (V) Oxide, Ammonium Metavanadate, and Sodium Metavanadate as upstream feedstocks for VRFB electrolyte production.
A sodium-ion battery substitutes earth-abundant sodium for lithium in the cathode and electrolyte, opening a path around the lithium and cobalt supply constraints that dominate lithium-ion cell pricing.
Noah supplies Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Metavanadate, Manganese (II) Oxide, and Nickel (II) Hydroxide as precursors for layered sodium oxide and Prussian-blue analog cathodes.
An NMC (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide) cathode is built from a lithium source and a coprecipitated transition-metal hydroxide containing nickel, manganese, and cobalt at the target stoichiometry.
Noah supplies all four precursors at battery grade with Certificates of Analysis for cathode coprecipitation and calcination workflows.
LFP (lithium iron phosphate) and NMC (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide) are two cathode chemistries inside the lithium-ion family with sharply different crystal structures, compositions, and process requirements.
Noah supplies the lithium, nickel, manganese, cobalt, and iron phosphate precursors for both chemistries.
Lithium hydroxide (LiOH·H2O) and lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) are the two dominant lithium feedstocks for cathode synthesis, with sharply different chemistry fit and handling profiles.
Noah supplies both at battery grade with Certificate of Analysis on every lot.
NMC 811 and NMC 622 are two formulations of the lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide cathode family, distinguished by the ratio of nickel to manganese to cobalt in the cathode.
Noah supplies battery-grade Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate, Nickel Sulfate, Cobalt Hydroxide, and Manganese Carbonate at the trace-metal tolerances both formulations require.
Yes. Noah Chemicals supplies battery-grade precursors from its San Antonio, Texas facility with US-based handling, QC, and packaging that procurement teams need to claim Inflation Reduction Act domestic content credit.
Request a domestic-content compliance package with your quote and we will include the documentation your procurement team needs to qualify the material under IRA domestic content rules.
