3. Positive electrodes

There is no shortage of materials a priori suitable for use as positive electrodes in lithium-anode batteries. However, many of them should only be used for primary generators, as their electrochemical discharge processes are too complex to be easily reversible. In the case of secondary generators, a "good" cathode material must remain structurally unchanged and not bind to its environment during charge-discharge processes. It's customary to distinguish between "low voltage cathodes" and "high voltage cathodes". Low voltage cathodes, which are well suited to cells with lithium metal anodes, lead to electrode potentials, relative to lithium, of the order of 2.2 to 3.2 V. In the case of the latter, generally used in cells with lithiated carbon anodes, electrode potentials are of the order of 4 V. However, there is no theoretical separation between these two groups of materials