What is the Difference Between Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide?

The main differences between lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide are their preparation processes, applications, and production costs. Here are the key differences:

Preparation Process: Lithium carbonate is mainly prepared by the sulfuric acid method, while lithium hydroxide is mainly prepared by the alkaline method or the sodium carbonate pressure method. The production process for lithium hydroxide typically involves more purification steps and higher costs compared to lithium carbonate.
Applications: Lithium carbonate is used in the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries, grease and lubricants, ceramic glazes, tile adhesives, cement densifiers, and as a processing chemical in the aluminum industry. It is also an essential medication listed by the WHO for treating bipolar disorder. Lithium hydroxide is primarily used in the production of higher energy density cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, such as lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP).
Production Costs: Lithium carbonate has always been cheaper than lithium hydroxide on the market. However, the cost of producing lithium hydroxide using hard rock mining, such as spodumene ore, is generally lower than producing it from salt lake brine. In many cases, lithium carbonate is cheaper to refine than lithium hydroxide, as it requires one less step in the production process.

Despite the growing demand for lithium hydroxide in the battery market, lithium carbonate remains in demand due to its lower production costs and diverse applications.

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What is the Difference Between Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide?

Comparative Table: Lithium Carbonate vs Lithium Hydroxide

Here is a table comparing the differences between lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide:

Property	Lithium Carbonate (Li₂CO₃)	Lithium Hydroxide (LiOH)
Preparation Process	Mainly prepared by sulfuric acid method, obtained by the reaction of sulfuric acid and spodumene. Sodium carbonate is added to lithium sulfate solution and then precipitated and dried.	Mainly prepared by alkaline method, i.e., roasting of spodumene and calcium hydroxide. Some are prepared by the so-called sodium carbonate pressure method, i.e., the solution containing lithium is treated with sodium carbonate under high pressure.
Uses in Battery Manufacturing	Mainly used to make LFP batteries for small EVs with iron phosphate, as well as batteries for home electronics and IT devices that demand relatively low energy density.	Mainly used for EV batteries that feature high density and high capacity, easily synthesized with nickel that increases the battery’s performance. This is why lithium hydroxide is preferred in the battery manufacturing industries, especially in the EV production.
Decomposition Temperature	Decomposes at a higher temperature.	Decomposes at a lower temperature, allowing the process of producing battery cathodes to be more sustainable and the final product to have better performance.
Cost of Production	The cost of producing lithium carbonate from brine is lower than extracting lithium hydroxide.	The cost of producing lithium hydroxide from brine is higher than extracting lithium carbonate.

Lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide are both raw materials for batteries, but lithium hydroxide is preferred in the battery manufacturing industries, especially in the electric vehicle (EV) production, due to its lower decomposition temperature and better performance.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.