Which one among the following metals is prominently used in mobile phone batteries ?

Lithium is the prominent metal used in modern mobile phone batteries, specifically in the form of lithium-ion (Li-ion) technology [2]. These batteries are the most common rechargeable type found in almost all portable electronic devices, including smartphones, due to their high electrical storage capacity and lightweight nature [1]. While other metals like cobalt, nickel, and aluminum are also used in battery chemistry—often as part of the cathode (e.g., lithium cobalt oxide)—lithium remains the defining and essential component for the ion exchange process that powers the device [3]. Copper is extensively used in mobile phones but primarily for circuitry, wiring, and heat sinks rather than as the active energy storage medium in the battery [2]. Consequently, lithium is the primary metal associated with the high energy density required for modern mobile technology.

Sources

1. [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects > A step further > p. 58
2. [2] https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/your-mobile-phone-is-powered-by-precious-metals-and-minerals.html
3. [3] https://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-11/high-tech-metal-resourecs-of-nsw-side2.pdf