Battery Technology Reference

A knowledge graph of how batteries are built and why they fail — organized by chemistry and component.

Structure: Lead-acid → plates, separator, electrolyte, formation, aging. Lithium-ion → cathode, anode, cell, pack, thermal, balancing. Click any component for its reference.

Browse by cluster: Lead-acid technology · Lithium-ion technology · Materials & manufacturing

Lead-acid

Plates & grid

Plate & grid design — grid alloy, plate thickness, CCA-vs-cycle-life trade-off
Lead oxide — the active material (PbO → PbO₂ / spongy lead)
Grid alloy — Pb-Ca vs Pb-Sb vs Pb-Sn metallurgy

Separator & electrolyte

Separator & electrolyte — isolation, acid density, AGM glass mat
Electrolyte & specific gravity — hydrometer, the direct charge read
Electrolyte additives — carbon, SEI formers
Battery materials (the complete map) — both chemistries side by side

Formation & charging

Formation & charging — the first charge and the charging profile

Failure & aging

Failure modes — sulfation, corrosion, water loss
Lead-acid aging — corrosion, water loss, stratification

Sealed designs

VRLA (valve-regulated lead-acid) — the AGM + gel family
Gel battery technology — silica-gelled electrolyte

Lithium-ion

Cathode & anode

Cathode & anode — LFP/NMC/NCA cathode, graphite/silicon anode
Cathode materials — NMC/NCA/LFP and the cobalt question
LMFP cathode — the manganese lift on LFP
LCO cathode — the original, cobalt-heavy chemistry
Anode materials — graphite, silicon and LTO
Graphite anode — the standard ~372 mAh/g anode
Electrolyte & separator — ion transport and the safety layer

Cell, module & pack

Cell, module & pack architecture — the hierarchy and the BMS

Thermal & balancing

Thermal management — cooling, heating, the temperature window
Cell balancing — passive vs active, the weakest-cell rule
Lithium BMS technology — monitoring, protection, estimation
Battery pack design — structure, cooling, the system around the cells

Manufacturing

Lead-acid manufacturing — grid casting, paste, curing, formation
Lithium manufacturing — coating, stacking, formation, grading
Electrode process — slurry, coating, drying, calendering, slitting
Battery recycling technology — smelting vs hydrometallurgy
Quality control — the QC gates in manufacturing

Return to World Battery Hub. Content is researched from public sources and cross-verified; it is informational, not purchasing advice.

Frequently asked questions

Which chemistry should I choose?

Start from the duty cycle, temperature and weight budget. Lead-acid is cost-effective for stationary and cranking duty; lithium is lighter and more cycle-tolerant but needs management electronics.

Is lithium always better?

No. Upfront cost, safety engineering and end-of-life handling can make lead-acid the better choice for stationary or low-cycle applications.

How do I compare cycle life?

Compare at the same depth of discharge, temperature and end-of-life criterion. A cycle count without those conditions is not comparable.