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Lithium-Ion Battery Explorer

About This Visualisation

Understanding charge and discharge in lithium-ion batteries. Press Discharge or Charge to run the cell, or use Move one atom to advance it a single transfer at a time.

Intercalation: Lithium atoms are stored between the layers of graphite forming LiC₆, and metal oxide layers. This model shows 9 Li atoms intercalated horizontally between the electrode layers.

Electrode Identity: "Anode" = oxidation electrode, "Cathode" = reduction electrode. During discharge, left is anode. During charge, left becomes cathode (roles reverse). Terminal polarity (−/+) stays fixed.

Solvation: When Li⁺ enters the electrolyte, it becomes surrounded by solvent molecules (shown as outer circle). The solvation shell disappears when Li⁺ enters the electrode material.

Safety Note: Pure lithium metal is dangerously reactive. In lithium-ion batteries, lithium is safely intercalated with graphite (LiC₆), preventing direct contact with electrolyte.

Electrochemical Cell

e⁻ through the circuit 0
Li⁺ across the electrolyte 0
  • Li atoms — intercalated in electrode
  • Li⁺ ions — migrate through electrolyte
  • e⁻ electrons — flow through wire
  • Other ions present in electrolyte (not shown for simplicity)

Controls

SoC / DoD

SoC 100%
DoD 0%

Battery Performance: Voltage vs Capacity

Voltage 4.20 V
Capacity 0.00 Ah
Energy 0.00 Wh

Mode Information

Ready

Battery fully charged. Press Discharge to begin.

Battery fully charged, with Li atoms intercalated in graphite as LiC₆. Press Discharge, or use "Move one atom" to step through it one transfer at a time.

Model Simplifications

Visual clarity: Only Li⁺ ions shown moving through electrolyte. Supporting electrolyte ions (e.g., PF₆⁻) present but not displayed.

Particle scale: 9 atoms represent full battery capacity for educational clarity.

Sequential motion: Atoms move one at a time to show individual contributions clearly.

Ideal conditions: No internal resistance or capacity fade shown, so charge and discharge retrace the same curve.