Industrial grade Electronic grade 56.5% Lithium hydroxide CAS 1310-66-3

What is Lithium hydroxide? How does it work?

Lithium hydroxide (LiOH) is the most important industrial alkali for lithium and a core raw material in the electronics and new energy industry chain. It exists in two commercial forms: anhydrous and monohydrate (LiOH·H2O), both being white crystalline powders. Electronic-grade (including battery-grade) lithium hydroxide is a high-purity specification specifically designed for electronic materials and lithium battery manufacturing, with requirements for metallic impurities and magnetic foreign matter far exceeding those of ordinary industrial-grade products—it is indispensable in high-end electronic products such as mobile phone cover glass, electric vehicle batteries, and electronic ceramics.

Basic identification information: Molecular formula LiOH (LiOH·H2O monohydrate), molecular weight 23.95 (41.96 for monohydrate), CAS number 1310-65-2 (anhydrous)/1310-66-3 (monohydrate), EC number 215-183-4, UN 2680.

Physically, lithium hydroxide is a white, hygroscopic solid with no odor; density 1.46 g/cm³ (anhydrous) / 1.51 g/cm³ (monohydrate); melting point 462℃, boiling point 924℃ (decomposes); readily soluble in water (solubility 12.8 g/100 mL at 20℃), slightly soluble in ethanol; aqueous solution is strongly alkaline and exothermic.

Chemically, lithium hydroxide is a typical strong base (pKa 14.4), capable of neutralizing various acids (reacting with HF to form lithium fluoride (LiF), and with CO2 to form lithium carbonate). The small radius and high charge density of lithium ions give it a unique "lithium effect"—lowering glass melting temperature, inhibiting alkali-aggregate reaction in concrete, and improving ceramic sintering performance. Strict control of impurities (Na, Ca, Fe, Mg, magnetic foreign matter, etc.) is a crucial prerequisite for its inclusion in high-end electronic materials. Storage must be airtight and moisture-proof to prevent deterioration due to CO2 absorption.

From the perspective of its mechanism of action, electronic-grade lithium hydroxide plays an irreplaceable role in the electronics field due to its "high-purity lithium source + strong base activity + lithium-ion characteristics". The mechanism of action in different applications is as follows:

1.Synthesis mechanism of cathode materials (low melting point, high activity lithium source)

Lithium hydroxide has a low melting point (462℃) and higher reactivity than lithium carbonate. When mixed with nickel-cobalt-manganese/nickel-cobalt-aluminum precursors, it can be solid-state sintered at a lower temperature, avoiding lattice damage to the high-nickel cathode caused by the high-temperature decomposition of lithium carbonate (CO2 escape). Therefore, high-nickel NCM/NCA cathodes must use lithium hydroxide as the lithium source. High purity ensures extremely low impurities in the cathode material and a longer cycle life.

2.Lithium salt synthesis mechanism (LiOH → LiF → LiPF6 pathway)

Lithium hydroxide reacts with anhydrous hydrofluoric acid to produce high-purity lithium fluoride (LiOH + HF → LiF + H2O), and lithium fluoride then reacts with phosphorus pentafluoride to produce lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) – currently the mainstream lithium salt for electrolytes; this “lithium hydroxide → lithium fluoride → lithium hexafluorophosphate” chain is the core raw material channel for lithium battery electrolytes.

3.Glass fluxing and chemical strengthening mechanism (lithium aluminum silicon system)

Lithium ions have small radii and high electric field strength. When introduced into a glass network, they can significantly reduce the melting temperature and coefficient of thermal expansion. When lithium aluminum silicon glass undergoes ion exchange in potassium nitrate molten salt, the surface Na+/K+ substitution generates a compressive stress layer, forming a high-strength cover glass. Lithium hydroxide is the key lithium source for lithium aluminum silicon glass batching.

4.Sintering modification mechanism of electronic ceramics (lithium fluxing and performance regulation)

Lithium ions, as fluxes, lower the sintering temperature of electronic ceramics, refine grain size, and improve dielectric and piezoelectric properties. They are commonly used modifying components in the formulations of electronic ceramics such as MLCCs and piezoelectric ceramics.

5.Mechanism of alkaline modification of electrolyte (alkaline battery)

Adding lithium hydroxide to an alkaline electrolyte can improve conductivity, charge/discharge capacity, and high-temperature performance. Its high purity avoids interference from impurity ions on battery performance.

In summary, electronic-grade lithium hydroxide is the high-purity lithium source hub "from mobile phone glass to power battery", connecting the entire electronic manufacturing chain, including electronic glass, battery cathode, electrolyte lithium salt, and electronic ceramics, thanks to its high purity and lithium-ion characteristics.

What are the applications of electronic-grade Lithium hydroxide?

1.Lithium source for lithium-ion battery cathode materials (core application in lithium battery and new energy electronics fields)

Application Field: Lithium ion battery materials, new energy electronics

Corresponding Products: High-nickel ternary cathode materials (NCM811/NCM622/NCA), lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂) cathodes, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathodes

Applicability Principle: Sintering temperature and impurities exert significant influence on high-nickel cathodes. Electronic-grade lithium hydroxide has a low melting point and high activity, enabling low-temperature solid-state sintering and preventing lattice damage caused by lithium carbonate decomposition. Its extremely low levels of metallic impurities and magnetic foreign matter guarantee cathode material purity, which directly governs battery cycle life and safety. It is an irreplaceable lithium source for high-nickel cathodes.

2.Raw materials for electronic-grade lithium salts and electrolyte lithium salts (core application in electronic chemicals)

Application Field: Electronic chemicals and lithium battery electrolytes

Corresponding Products: Lithium fluoride (LiF), lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆), high-purity battery-grade lithium carbonate, lithium difluorosulfonylimide and other electrolyte lithium salts

Applicability Principle: Lithium hydroxide reacts with HF to produce high-purity lithium fluoride ( LiOH + HF → LiF + H2O), and lithium fluoride reacts with PF₅ to synthesise lithium hexafluorophosphate, the mainstream electrolyte lithium salt. The high purity of electronic-grade lithium hydroxide directly controls metallic impurity levels in electrolyte lithium salts, which impacts battery safety and service life. It serves as the starting raw material in the electrolyte lithium salt industrial chain.

3.Fluxes for electronic glass and cover glass (key application in electronic display industry)

Application Field: Consumer electronics and electronic displays

Corresponding Products: Lithium aluminosilicate cover glass (chemically strengthened glass for mobile phones/tablets/automotive screens), display substrate glass, heat-resistant electronic glass

Applicability Principle: Lithium ions reduce glass melting temperature and thermal expansion coefficient. Ion-exchange chemical strengthening forms a compressive stress layer on the surface of lithium aluminosilicate glass, substantially enhancing drop and scratch resistance. Lithium hydroxide is the main raw material for lithium incorporation in lithium aluminosilicate glass formulations. Its high purity avoids bubbles and inclusions inside glass.

4.Electronic ceramics and electronic component materials (electronics industry)

Application Field: Electronic components and electronic ceramics

Corresponding Products: MLCC multilayer ceramic capacitors, piezo-ceramics, microwave dielectric ceramics, ceramic substrates, electronic ceramic flux

Applicability Principle: Li ions work as flux/modifier to lower ceramic sintering temperature, refine grain size, and improve dielectric constant, piezoelectric coefficient and temperature stability. High-purity lithium hydroxide is a common lithium ingredient for high-performance electronic ceramic formulations and ensures consistent electrical properties of ceramic materials.

5.Electrolyte additives for alkaline batteries (battery industry)

Application Field: Battery Industry

Corresponding Products: Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery electrolytes, alkaline zinc-manganese battery electrolytes, coin cell batteries

Applicability Principle: Adding lithium hydroxide to alkaline electrolytes improves conductivity, raises charge/discharge capacity, and enhances high-temperature and cycle performance. Its high electronic-grade purity eliminates interference from impurity ions on battery performance, making it a premium electrolyte additive for alkaline battery systems.

6.Optical and optoelectronic material raw materials (optics and optoelectronics domain)

Application Field: Optics and optoelectronics

Corresponding Products: Lithium fluoride optical windows, coating materials, scintillation crystals (for radiation detection), phosphors, X-ray and UV optical components

Applicability Principle: Lithium fluoride comes from the lithium hydroxide processing chain. It has a wide transmission band and low refractive index, making it suitable for deep ultraviolet optical windows and coating materials. Lithium-based scintillation crystals (e.g. Ce:Li-based) are used for radiation detection. High purity directly determines optical performance, so it is a critical lithium source for optical material preparation.

Summarize electronic grade lithium hydroxide （LiOH, CAS 1310-65-2) is a high-purity lithium source running through the entire electronics manufacturing chain. With the properties of “high purity lithium source + low melting point + high activity + lithium ion characteristics”, it has mature applications across six major sectors: lithium battery cathode materials (preferred for high nickel NCM/NCA), electrolyte lithium salts (LiF/LiPF₆ link), electronic glass (lithium aluminosilicate cover glass), electronic ceramics (MLCC/piezoelectric ceramics), alkaline battery electrolytes, and optical and optoelectronic materials. Electronic-grade lithium hydroxide is an important electronic chemical for high-end electronics industries such as smartphones and new energy vehicles. Its purity and impurity control level directly determine the performance and yield of downstream electronic products.