In a battery, an electrode typically refers to either the anode or the cathode, which are the two primary components where electrochemical reactions occur. More generally, an electrode is any electronic conductor (usually a metal or carbon material) that interfaces with an ionic conductor (the electrolyte) to allow charge transfer. In a lithium-ion battery, the anode (often graphite or other carbon-based materials, sometimes lithium metal or silicon composites) is the negative electrode that releases electrons to the external circuit during discharge, and the cathode (often a lithium metal oxide like NMC, LFP, etc.) is the positive electrode that accepts electrons from the external circuit during discharge. Each electrode is typically composed of active material (which hosts the lithium during charging or discharging), a binder, and conductive additives, all coated on a metallic current collector.
NOVONIX’s work spans both anodes and cathodes, developing improved materials and testing their performance rigorously. NOVONIX evaluates how electrodes behave with different compositions and under different operating conditions: By fabricating electrodes in-house and assembling them into test cells, NOVONIX can assess characteristics like capacity, rate performance, and cycle life. The term “electrode” can also be used in a testing context (e.g., half-cell tests where a single electrode is tested against a reference). NOVONIX leverages such tests to isolate the performance of individual electrode materials. Through its comprehensive approach to electrode research, NOVONIX contributes to advancements that make electrodes (and thus batteries) store more energy, last longer, and operate safely.
