The world economy is presently fossil fuel based which poses significant future risks for our environment, climate and political stability. In response to these challenges, we are slowly transitioning to more renewable based energy sources. This requires cost effective, light weight and high performing energy storage now available with lithium batteries. The new lithium economy needs include: lithium mining, processing and purification, continued innovation in lithium battery technology, cost effective battery production, as well as effective, efficient recycling of value metals from spent lithium batteries. Analytical spectroscopies are a critical enabling technology in the development, manufacturing and recycling processes associated with lithium batteries. Analyses needs encompass purity, control and monitoring at every step of the supply chain as well as reverse engineering, root cause analyses and interfacial studies in the innovation process. Key analytical technologies presently employed include: • Atomic spectroscopy (elemental analysis) • Vibrational spectroscopy and microscopy (molecular speciation) • SEM-EDX imaging, XPS The proposed symposia will provide an overview of the economic drivers and present mining practices of lithium, current design features and performance characteristics of lithium batteries, recycling practices of spent lithium batteries, characterizing and understanding lithium battery interfaces and failure modes and also characterization of the graphite rich black mass of the recycling stream.