How lithium-ion batteries work conceptually: thermodynamics of
Processes in a discharging lithium-ion battery Fig. 1 shows a schematic of a discharging lithium-ion battery with a negative electrode (anode) made of lithiated graphite and a positive electrode (cathode) of iron phosphate. As the battery discharges, graphite with loosely bound intercalated lithium (Li x C 6 (s)) undergoes an oxidation half-reaction, resulting in the