What Are The Safest Lithium Battery Cells?

LTO (Lithium Titanate) cells offer the highest safety due to their stable chemical compositions and tolerance to harsh conditions, while Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cells, are safer than Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) cells due to a more stable structure and reduced overheating risks, but neither are as safe as LTO.

What Are The Safest Cells By Chemistry?

Based on extensive research and numerous safety tests, LTO (Lithium Titanate Oxide) cells are the safest lithium-ion battery type available.

LTO cells stand unrivaled in their resilience to potential hazards, demonstrating remarkable resistance to combustion even under severe conditions. For instance, an LTO cell will not catch fire even when subjected to extreme physical stress, such as being pierced with a knife or struck with a hammer. While it may heat up slightly and release some liquid — which could be either clear or black — the temperature rise isn't significant enough to ignite nearby materials or pose a substantial fire risk.

This superior safety profile is attributed to the robust design and unique chemistry of LTO batteries. They are engineered to resist thermal events effectively, dramatically minimizing the likelihood of fires or explosions. This resistance holds true even in scenarios of physical damage or overcharging, which are common threats to the safety of many other lithium-ion batteries.

However, it's important to emphasize that safety doesn't solely depend on the type of battery. Whether you're using an LTO, LFP, or NMC cell, adherence to proper handling, charging, and battery storage practices plays a pivotal role in ensuring safety. Improper usage or negligence can pose risks even with the safest batteries. 

Is LTO Safer Than LiFePO4? 

When it comes to safety in the realm of lithium-ion batteries, LTO (Lithium Titanate Oxide) holds a particular advantage. It offers remarkable resistance against typical safety risks like overcharging, short-circuiting, and mechanical damage, making it one of the safest lithium-ion battery types available.

On the other hand, LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries, while safer than many other lithium-ion chemistries, can't quite match up to the robustness of LTO. If an LFP battery is subjected to mechanical damage, overcharging, or excessive current flow, it tends to heat up, potentially releasing some liquid and gasses. Although it doesn't usually produce shooting flames like some other battery chemistries, it can still pose a fire hazard.

Due to LFP mostly safe nature and higher capacity than cells using the LTO chemistry. LFP is used as a good middle ground between safety and capacity. You often see LFP cells used in battery storage or in car audio in the case of the 38120 Headway cell.

Consequently, LTO batteries offer an edge in terms of safety compared to LFP. The inherent stability of LTO significantly reduces the risks of fire incidents, thus elevating the level of safety when employing these batteries in various applications.

Is LTO Safer Than NMC? 

Comparing LTO batteries with NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) chemistry, it's clear that the two have distinct differences. NMC, a chemistry frequently utilized in LiPo (Lithium Polymer) batteries and 18650 battery cells, has an extremely volatile chemistry. This means that if the internal components of NMC cells contact each other, it will likely lead to substantial thermal events, potentially causing a fire or even an explosion.

Canister NMC cells, protected within a durable steel casing, provide a high degree of protection against physical damage. However, this safety is compromised if substantial force is applied to these cells. Meanwhile, LiPo batteries, though possessing the same sensitive chemistry as NMC, are even more vulnerable due to their soft outer cover and plastic electrolyte.

In comparison, LTO batteries withstand prolonged overcharging or excessive current flow without the same level of risk as NMC and LiPo cells. Due to LTOs extreme ability to handle abuse and output current it is commonly used for car audio battery banks. This resistance to common safety threats solidifies LTO's position as a safer, more stable option among lithium-ion batteries.

Comparing LTO to NMC and LFP in terms of safety

Not all lithium batteries are equally safe. The safety of lithium-ion batteries is primarily determined by their chemical composition and thermal stability. While they are all based on lithium, the other chemicals required for each cell type have their own complex interactions. 

LTO (Lithium Titanate) batteries are carbon-free, significantly reducing the risk of thermal runaway or overheating. Their high tolerance to wide temperature ranges also contributes to their safe operation across various applications. They offer poor energy density, so it requires a lot of large cells to form a battery pack. 

LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries deliver a balance between energy density and safety. They have a stable chemical structure that reduces overheating and tolerance to overcharging, eliminating cobalt, a material linked with safety and ethical concerns.  These are much more energy-dense than LTO cells but are a little more dangerous to use. 

NMC (Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) batteries, both canister and lipo forms, offer high energy density but possess a higher risk of thermal runaway due to the presence of nickel, which can catalyze oxidation reactions. These cells provide the absolute most energy density, so they are required for compact, high capacity, high current battery packs.