Lithium　rare　metal　is　the　core　of　the　lithium　ion　battery.　Lithium　ions　in　the　form　of　lithium　metal　oxide　with　different　spatial　structure　(layered,　olivine　and　spinel)　constitutes　cathode　material　of　lithium　ion　batteries.　Lithium　salts　make　up　the　bulk　of　the　electrolyte.　Lithium　metal　forms　the　anode　of　battery.　The　processes　of　lithium　ions　insertion　and　extraction　between　the　cathode　and　anode　through　electrolyte　can　realize　the　energy　conversion　between　chemical　energy　and　electric　energy.　The　cathode　materials　composed　of　lithium　elements　with　different　structures　have　their　own　advantages　in　the　five　core　indicators　of　battery　including　cost,　energy,　power,　life　and　safety.　Different　kinds　of　lithium　salts　have　their　own　advantages　in　thermal　stability,　ion　mobility　and　cost.　Side　reactions　between　anode　and　electrolyte　are　one　of　the　major　problems　for　lithium　metal.　Herein,　this　paper　summarized　the　reserves,　distribution　and　application　fields　of　lithium　resources.　Based　on　the　research　status　at　home　and　abroad,　a　comprehensive　review　was　given　on　the　characteristics,　advantages　and　existing　problems　of　different　types　of　lithium　metal　oxide.　The　development,　advantages,　existing　problems　and　corresponding　solutions　of　the　lithium　metal　as　the　batteries　anodes　were　also　summarized.　The　characteristics　of　different　lithium　salts　summed　up　as　well.　Meanwhile,　the　development　direction　of　lithium　ion　battery　was　analyzed.　The　importance　of　lithium　metal　to　the　development　for　future　science　and　technology　was　predicted.　©　Editorial　Office　of　Chinese　Journal　of　Rare　Metals.　All　right　reserved.