As battery manufacturing scales globally, one term keeps coming up: pCAM, or precursor cathode active material. It’s a vital ingredient in the lithium-ion battery supply chain — but what exactly is it made of?
In this post, we’ll break down the composition of pCAM, explain how it fits into battery production, and show how Green Li-ion is changing the way pCAM is recovered and reused.
What Is pCAM?
pCAM, or precursor cathode active material, is a powdered compound made from a precise mix of metals. It’s used to manufacture CAM (cathode active material) — the part of a lithium-ion battery that stores and releases energy.
Before pCAM becomes CAM, it must go through a lithiation process, but its elemental makeup and particle structure are essential to battery performance, lifespan, and safety.
Learn more about pCAM
The Core Elements of pCAM
The most common elements found in pCAM — especially for high-performance batteries — include:
- Nickel (Ni): Increases energy density
- Cobalt (Co): Improves thermal stability
- Manganese (Mn): Enhances structure and cost-efficiency
These are often used in NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) ratios, such as NMC 622 or NMC 811, depending on the battery’s end-use (e.g., EVs vs. grid storage).
Other chemistries may include:
- Aluminum (Al): Used in NCA (Nickel Cobalt Aluminum) types
- Iron and phosphate (Fe, P): In LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) systems, though not typically recovered as pCAM
Typical pCAM Formulations
Some common pCAM formulas by weight ratio include:
- NMC 622: 60% Ni, 20% Mn, 20% Co
- NMC 811: 80% Ni, 10% Mn, 10% Co
- NCA: ~85% Ni, 5% Co, 10% Al
These formulas impact everything from charging speed to durability and cost — which is why manufacturers care deeply about consistency and purity in their pCAM feedstock.
How Is pCAM Made?
Traditionally, pCAM is made by:
- Mining nickel, cobalt, and manganese
- Refining them into sulfates
- Co-precipitating them in chemical reactors
- Filtering, drying, and classifying the powder for further lithiation
This process is complex, expensive, and often handled at large centralized plants — usually outside the country where the batteries are manufactured.
How Green Li-ion Produces pCAM from Black Mass
Green Li-ion takes a different approach.
Our modular system recovers the same critical elements directly from black mass — the powder left over after lithium-ion batteries are shredded for recycling. Rather than exporting black mass for refinement, we process it on-site into 99% pure pCAM.
Benefits of our method:
- Works with unsorted black mass
- Produces pCAM compatible with existing manufacturing lines
- Reduces cost and emissions compared to traditional sourcing
- Delivers high purity and consistency
This means manufacturers and recyclers get a direct, local source of battery-grade material — without relying on upstream mining or international refiners.
Why pCAM Composition Matters
Every battery is only as good as the materials it’s made from. The specific elemental balance in pCAM affects:
- Energy density (range and runtime)
- Thermal stability (safety and lifespan)
- Production compatibility (matching cell formats)
- Cost (based on metal pricing and availability)
By understanding and controlling pCAM composition, battery producers can fine-tune performance, manage sourcing risk, and reduce waste.
Conclusion: The Right Mix Makes All the Difference
pCAM is more than just a step in the battery-making process — it’s the foundation. At Green Li-ion, we help recyclers and manufacturers close the loop by turning used batteries into high-purity pCAM ready for new production.
Contact our team to learn how our process recovers battery-grade materials — faster, cleaner, and closer to where you need them.
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