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UPSC Prelims 2025 GS Paper 1, question 43

Topic: Science and technology

Q43

In the context of electric vehicle batteries, consider the following elements :

I. Cobalt

II. Graphite

III. Lithium

IV. Nickel

How many of the above usually make up battery cathodes?

  1. (a) Only one
  2. (b) Only two
  3. (c) Only threeCorrect answer
  4. (d) All the four

Solution.

Answer: (c) Only three

  1. Items I, III and IV are correct: in electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries (such as NMC - Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide, and NCA - Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide), Lithium, Cobalt, and Nickel are key components of the cathode.
  2. Item II is incorrect: Graphite is the standard material used for the anode (negative electrode), not the cathode.