Lithium tetrachloroaluminate (LAC, lithium aluminium chloride) is an

inorganic compound In chemistry, an inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bonds, that is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as '' inorganic chemist ...

, a

tetrachloroaluminate Tetrachloroaluminate lCl4sup>− is an anion formed from aluminium and chlorine. The anion has a tetrahedral shape, similar to carbon tetrachloride where carbon is replaced with aluminium. Some tetrachloroaluminates are soluble in organic ...

lithium Lithium (from el, λίθος, lithos, lit=stone) is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal. Under standard conditions, it is the least dense metal and the least dense solid el ...

, with the formula LiAlCl₄. Solution of lithium tetrachloroaluminate in

thionyl chloride Thionyl chloride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a moderately volatile, colourless liquid with an unpleasant acrid odour. Thionyl chloride is primarily used as a chlorinating reagent, with approximately per year bein ...

is the liquid cathode and

electrolyte An electrolyte is a medium containing ions that is electrically conducting through the movement of those ions, but not conducting electrons. This includes most soluble salts, acids, and bases dissolved in a polar solvent, such as water. Upon dis ...

of some

lithium batteries Lithium battery may refer to: * Lithium metal battery, a non-rechargeable battery with lithium as an anode ** Rechargeable lithium metal battery, a rechargeable counterpart to the lithium metal battery * Lithium-ion battery, a rechargeable batte ...

, e.g. the lithium-

cell. Another cathode-electrolyte formulation is lithium tetrachloroaluminate+thionyl chloride+

sulfur dioxide Sulfur dioxide (IUPAC-recommended spelling) or sulphur dioxide (traditional Commonwealth English) is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a toxic gas responsible for the odor of burnt matches. It is released naturally by volcanic activ ...

bromine Bromine is a chemical element with the symbol Br and atomic number 35. It is the third-lightest element in group 17 of the periodic table (halogens) and is a volatile red-brown liquid at room temperature that evaporates readily to form a simila ...

. Other salts used in lithium battery electrolytes are

lithium bromide Lithium bromide (LiBr) is a chemical compound of lithium and bromine. Its extreme hygroscopic character makes LiBr useful as a desiccant in certain air conditioning systems.Wietelmann, Ulrich and Bauer, Richard J. (2005) "Lithium and Lithium Compo ...

lithium perchlorate Lithium perchlorate is the inorganic compound with the formula LiClO4. This white or colourless crystalline salt is noteworthy for its high solubility in many solvents. It exists both in anhydrous form and as a water of crystallization, trihydra ...

lithium tetrafluoroborate Lithium tetrafluoroborate is an inorganic compound with the formula Li BF4. It is a white crystalline powder. It has been extensively tested for use in commercial secondary batteries, an application that exploits its high solubility in nonpolar ...

, and

lithium hexafluorophosphate Lithium hexafluorophosphate is an inorganic compound with the formula Li PF6. It is a white crystalline powder. Production LiPF6 is manufactured by reacting phosphorus pentachloride with hydrogen fluoride and lithium fluoride :PCl5 + LiF + 5 ...

; less common ones are

lithium chloride Lithium chloride is a chemical compound with the formula Li Cl. The salt is a typical ionic compound (with certain covalent characteristics), although the small size of the Li+ ion gives rise to properties not seen for other alkali metal chlor ...

lithium iodide Lithium iodide, or LiI, is a compound of lithium and iodine. When exposed to air, it becomes yellow in color, due to the oxidation of iodide to iodine. It crystallizes in the NaCl motif. It can participate in various hydrates.Wietelmann, Ulrich an ...

, lithium chlorate,

lithium nitrate Lithium nitrate is an inorganic compound with the formula LiNO3. It is the lithium salt of nitric acid (an alkali metal nitrate). The salt is deliquescent, absorbing water to form the hydrated form, lithium nitrate trihydrate. Its eutectics are o ...

, lithium hexafluoroarsenate, lithium hexafluorosilicate (i.e. lithium and

hexafluorosilicic acid Hexafluorosilicic acid is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . Aqueous solutions of hexafluorosilicic acid consist of salts of the cation and hexafluorosilicate anion. These salts and their aqueous solutions are colorless. Hexafluo ...

lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, often simply referred to as LiTFSI, is a hydrophilic salt with the chemical formula LiC2F6NO4S2. It is commonly used as Li-ion source in electrolytes for Li-ion batteries as a safer alternative to common ...

, and lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate.

References

Lithium salts Tetrachloroaluminates {{inorganic-compound-stub