Lithium iron phosphate battery (short as LiFePO4) or LFP, is a type of lithium ion battery which use lithium iron phosphate as cathode materials, and a graphitic carbon electrode with metallic backing as anode materials. LiFePo4 is less than ICR li-ion battery on energy/density, and it has a lower working voltage (3.2V). The main flaw of lithium iron phosphate is low electrical conductivity. Therefore, all negative electrode which are under considered of LFP are in fact LiFePO4/C. due to cost and harmness, good performance, long time stability, LiFePO4 acts as main roles in electric vehicles, solar storage and backup power.

LiFePO4 utilizes chemistry derived by lithium ion so it inherits lots of specifications from li-ion, but there are also some differences.

LiFePO4 contains neither nickel nor cobalt, which are costly,Human rights concerns have been rised up regarding mined cobalt in battery for distributed power energy, solar storage, electric vehicles etc. LiFePO4 chemistry provides much longer lifespan than other lithium-ion batteries.

Like nickel based rechargeable battery (unlike other lithium ion battery), LiFePO4 battery has constant discharge voltage. Voltage stays around 3.2V in operation until the cell exhausts. It allows the cell deliver virtually full power till it is charged, and it can extremely reduce or even exclude requirements for voltage regulation.

Due to the nominal 3.2V output, 4 cells can be aligned to nominal voltage 12.8V. This makes it equals to 6 cell lead-acid battery. Along with extremely safety specifications of LiFePO4 battery, it makes LiFePO4 a prior potential replacement for lead-acid battery in various application like automotive and solar system, offered charge system is adapted not to damage LiFePO4 cell through too much voltage (under 3.6v per cell during charging), voltages compensation based on temperature, balanced attempt or continuous charging. LiFePO4 cell must be at least balanced at first before battery pack is finished and implement a BMS to ensure that no cell will be discharged below 2.5V or serious hurt happen in most cases.

The phosphate avoid cobalt cost and environmental concern, especially about cobalt join in the nature through inappropriate scrap LFP has higher discharge current or burst discharge rate than LiCoO2. The energy density (energy/volume) of a LiFePO4 battery is about 15% lower than a lithium cobalt oxide battery. meanwhile a lot of LiFePO4 brand, as well as cell within a given 

brand of LiFePO4, has a lower discharge ratings than lead-acid or lithium cobalt oxide. As discharge ratings is percent of capacity, larger capacity (higher mAh) can reach higher ratings, in case low discharge current battery must be used. higher discharge current LiFePO4 cell (which has higher discharge ratings than lead acid or lithium cobalt oxide battery with same mAh) could be choosed.

LFP cell has lower self discharge rate than li-ion battery chemistry such as lithium cobalt oxideor lithium manganese spinel lithium polymer battery/LiPo or li-ion battery. After 12 months on the shelf, a LFP cell generally has about same energy density as a lithium cobalt oxide cell, because of LiFePO4's lower self discharge.

Compared with lithium ion chemistry LFP performs better at thermal and chemical stability, it guarantees safety of batteries. LFP is much safer than lithium cobalt oxide and NCM, with the coefficient of negative temperature impedance which could drive away thermal. P–O bond in (PO4)3− ion is more powerful than Co-O in (CoO2)− ion, therefore when misused (short circuit, over heat, over charge and so on), oxygen atom will be issued slower, The stability of redox energy leads to quicker ion migrate.

Cause lithium migrates out of cathode in lithium cobalt oxide, the CoO2 experience random extension that influence the structure completeness of battery cell. The completely lithiated and unlithiated LiFePO4 are similar on structure, this is to say LFP cell is more stable than lithium cobalt oxide cell. There is not any lithium left in the cathode of completely recharged LFP cells. (In lithium cobalt oxide cells, about half left.) LFP is highly flexible when oxygen leaves, which generally leads to an calorific status for the other lithium battery cell. Thence, LFP cell is more difficult to burn at the case of abuse (particularly at charging). Even at high temperature, LFP battery will not be destroyed