 Specifically the mechanism of insertion involves lithium cations filling crystallographic vacancies in the host lattice with minimal changes to the bonding within the host lattice.This differentiates intercalation anodes from conversion anodes that store lithium by complete disruption and formation of alternate phases, usually as lithia.Conversion systems typically disproportionate to lithia and a metal (or lower metal oxide) at low voltages, < 1V vs Li, and reform the metal oxide at voltage > 2V, for example, CoO + 2Li --> Co+Li2O.