What is Lithium?

Lithium: the lightest of all metals

A highly reactive and inflammable element, lithium (Li) is the first alkali metal in the periodic table which consists of elements such as sodium (Na). Present all over the world, lithium does not exist in its pure state in nature but can be extracted in small quantities from rock, clay and brine.

Discovered in 1817 by the Swedish chemist Johan August Arfwedson, lithium is one of the three elements synthesized during the Big Bang along with hydrogen and helium. Derived from a Greek word, its name means stone.

Present everywhere on Earth, lithium is most abundant in Latin America. It is highly-requested by various industries for its very light weight and its outstanding properties used in electrochemical energy storage technologies.

Today, more than 30% of its production worldwide is used to manufacture batteries but it is also needed for the manufacture of heat-resistant glass and ceramics, lubricants, steel and aluminium, rubber, etc.

Notably with the development of electric cars, lithium is needed more and more and is currently enjoying 25% growth in demand every year. It is one of the highly strategic elements used in energy storage.
 

Leader in advanced fluorinated technology

Solvay, the leader in advanced fluorinated technology, produces LiTFSI (lithium bis-trifluoromethanesulfonimide) and its derivatives since more than 10 years thanks to a unique, sustainable and competitive patented process, providing global electronic solution. Solvay LiTFSI is the lithium salt market reference with outstanding electrochemical properties, high stability (chemical and thermal) that ensure safety and performance to its main end-use applications: electric vehicles, e-bikes, flat-panel screens, smartphones, laptops & powertools.