Optimizing ICP-OES and ICP-MS Workflows for Battery Chemical Processing

This episode focuses on the critical challenges of lithium salt analysis during the component manufacturing stage of lithium-ion batteries, with an emphasis on achieving accurate and reliable elemental analysis. Experts discuss best practices for sample preparation and digestion of various battery materials, including graphite, silicon-carbon composites, and lithium metal oxides, highlighting strategies to manage matrix effects, interferences, and varying ionization potentials.

The conversation also explores techniques like standard addition calibration and matrix matching to improve the accuracy of ICP-OES and ICP-MS measurements. Panelists emphasize how these approaches help compensate for matrix effects, viscosity differences, and unknown components, ensuring precise quantification of both major and trace-level elemental impurities.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

• Addressing challenges in lithium salt analysis for accurate component evaluation.
• Best practices for sample preparation and digestion across different battery materials.
• Using multiple spectral lines and wavelengths for robust elemental detection.
• Implementing standard addition calibration and matrix matching to overcome interferences.
• Optimizing ICP-OES and ICP-MS workflows for reliable, high-quality analytical results.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Ni, Y., & Feng, W. Agilent Technologies. (2019, January 30). Determination of elemental impurities in graphite-based anodes using the Agilent 5110 ICP-OES (Publication No. 5991-9508EN).
• Riles, P. Agilent Technologies. (2019, June 5). Multi-element analysis of air-filters using the Agilent 5110 VDV ICP-OES (Publication No. 5994-0882EN).
• Agilent Technologies. (2020, November 13). ICP expert automation software pack: remote, automated elemental analysis (Publication No. 5994-2835EN).
• Zou, A. & Li, S. Agilent Technologies. (2025, March 18). Enhanced RoHS compliance testing with Agilent 5800 ICP-OES: accurate measurement of multiple elements including Cd, Cr, Pb, and Hg in plastic materials (Publication No. 5994-8252EN).
• Qi, Y. & Drvodelic, N. Agilent Technologies. (2023, June 16). Determination of elemental impurities in lithium carbonate Using ICP-OES: quality control of chemicals used in lithium ion battery components by Agilent 5800 VDV ICP-OES (Publication No. 5994-6112EN).
• Kubota, T. Agilent Technologies. (2022, October 3). Quantifying metal impurities in Li-Ion battery raw materials by ICP-MS/MS: sensitive, robust analysis of 64 elements in lithium carbonate using the Agilent 8900 ICP-QQQ (Publication No. 5994-5341EN).
• Wenkun, F. Agilent Technologies. (2020, December 9). Determination of 14 impurity elements in lithium carbonate using ICP-OES: routine quality control of raw materials used to produce cathode material for lithium ion batteries (Publication No. 5991-9507EN).