Purity 99.9% · CAS 7439-93-2 · Li
Lithium 99.9% (3N) — battery grade
Battery-grade metal, foil and salts
Overview
Battery-grade lithium metal, ribbon and foil from 20 µm, plus lithium carbonate and hydroxide at the same purity level. Handled and packed under argon throughout; sodium content is the specification that matters most for anode use.
Typical trace impurities
| Impurity | Typical max |
|---|---|
| Na | ≤ 100 ppm |
| K | ≤ 50 ppm |
| Fe | ≤ 20 ppm |
| Ca | ≤ 50 ppm |
Indicative values. The certificate of analysis for your lot is the binding document.
Where this grade is used
- ▪Lithium-metal and lithium-ion anode developers
- ▪Cathode precursor synthesis
- ▪Organometallic reagent manufacture
- ▪Solid-state battery research
Common forms
Ribbon, foil, ingot, carbonate, hydroxide
Specification at a glance
| Material | Lithium (Li) |
|---|---|
| Purity | 99.9% (3N), metals basis |
| CAS | 7439-93-2 |
| Production route | Molten-salt electrolysis of lithium chloride, argon-packed |
| Available forms | Ribbon, foil, ingot, carbonate, hydroxide |
| Analysis method | ICP-OES assay plus oxygen determination |
| Documentation | Certificate of analysis per lot, RoHS and REACH statements, country of origin |
| Typical packaging | Argon pouch · Sealed tin under oil · Drum (DG compliant) |
What 99.9% (3N) actually means
3N is shorthand for 99.9% purity on a metals basis: at most 0.1% of the material, by weight, is something other than Li. The metals-basis convention excludes dissolved gases and, for powders, surface oxygen — which is why oxygen is quoted separately in the trace table below.
Two lots at the same nominal purity are not interchangeable if the residual elements differ. For this grade the limiting element is typically Na at ≤ 100 ppm. What matters is which impurities your process is sensitive to — judge a lot on its full trace analysis, not on the headline number.
Choosing 3N versus the neighbouring grades
Coming from 99% (2N): the step up buys you tighter trace control for battery-grade metal, foil and salts. If your process tolerates the residuals of 2N, the lower grade remains the more economical and more widely available choice.
Going up to 99.99% (4N) is worth it when thin-film cells, research, optics describes your application; expect a materially higher cost per kilo and scarcer availability for a difference few processes can detect otherwise.
When in doubt, qualify both adjacent grades on a sample and run your own incoming inspection before committing a process to either.
Quality control and traceability
Lithium at 99.9% is normally released against a lot-specific certificate of analysis stating the assay, the trace elements measured and the method used (ICP-OES assay plus oxygen determination). Well-run lots stay traceable from the refinery batch through to the container that reaches the laboratory.
- ▪A retained sample per lot, so a later question can be re-tested against the original material
- ▪Independent third-party verification, used when the assay is contractually critical
- ▪Incoming inspection on the receiving side — the certificate states the method, not the result you will measure
Handling, storage and shipping
- ▪Lithium metal reacts with moisture and nitrogen in air — handle in an argon glovebox below 1 ppm H₂O and O₂.
- ▪Shipments travel as UN1415 (lithium metal) or the applicable UN number for salts, under IATA/ADR dangerous-goods rules with declared packaging.
- ▪Never quench residues with water; use dry sand or a Class D extinguisher and dispose through a licensed reactive-metal route.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions from buyers specifying lithium at 99.9%.
- Is 99.9% lithium the right grade for my application?
- It is the usual choice for battery-grade metal, foil and salts. Below it, 99% (2N) covers less demanding work at lower cost. Above it, 99.99% (4N) is reserved for thin-film cells, research, optics.
- What does the 3N designation mean?
- The N notation counts the nines in the assay: 3N equals 99.9% Li on a metals basis, with the balance made up of the trace elements listed in the analysis table.
- Which impurities are measured and reported?
- ICP-OES assay plus oxygen determination is used, and a certificate of analysis reports each element in the table above, starting with Na at ≤ 100 ppm. The scope of a scan can be widened to further elements when a process is sensitive to one in particular.
- How is this grade normally packed?
- Argon pouch, Sealed tin under oil, Drum (DG compliant). Shipments travel as UN1415 (lithium metal) or the applicable UN number for salts, under IATA/ADR dangerous-goods rules with declared packaging.
- Which forms is 99.9% lithium available in?
- Commonly: ribbon, foil, ingot, carbonate, hydroxide. The form is often a bigger practical constraint than the assay itself, because the last processing step has to preserve the purity already achieved.