Lithium-ion batteries are small rechargeable batteries used in many products, from mobile phones to laptops and from MP3 players to trucks. The technology is based on lithium ions transferring between the anode and cathode of the battery during discharge and charging processes. Because of their widespread usage, a large recycling system has been established for these small batteries.
How do lithium-ion batteries work?
The lithium-ion battery is made up of a cathode, an anode and a Lithium salt. When the battery is charged, lithium ions from the salt move to the anode while electrons from the battery go to the cathode. When a current is applied in reverse – a “discharge” – or when power is removed from the battery, lithium ions transfer back to the cathode while electrons return to the anode.
Why use lithium-ion batteries?
Almost all modern batteries used in consumer electronics take advantage of lithium-ion technology, and while there are a range of other battery types on the market (such as alkaline and nickel-cadmium), none have quite taken over the market in the same way. One reason for this is that they are rechargeable, which makes them particularly useful since they can be plugged into a wall socket or computer interface to top up their charge, rather than requiring replacement.
Another benefit is that they are smaller and lighter than alternative batteries. They also hold their charge very well when not in use – which is why you will find most laptops, cell-phones and for example jump starters run on lithium-ion batteries even though there are larger alternatives available.
What is the life of a lithium ion battery?
A fully charged lithium ion battery holds its charge for about 3 to 5 years . After that time frame, you’ll notice a decline in voltage. This usually occurs after 500 complete charge/discharge cycles.
Is lithium ion the best battery?
It seems that battery technology does not develop as fast as your smartphone, tablet or car. Lithium, a very lightweight metal, has been used in batteries since the 1990s. In particular, lithium-based rechargeable batteries have a high energy density and are well-suited for mobile applications. The positive electrode is based on metallic lithium or lithium compounds (lithium ion). Most commercial lithium ion batteries contain carbon anode materials to which the positively charged Li+ ions migrate when charging. However, graphene could be used in future instead of carbon to substantially improve the performance of lithium ion batteries.
Is there an alternative to lithium batteries?
Yes, there is: metal-air batteries. These batteries have an aqueous electrolyte and air as the cathode and anode, respectively. The oxygen in the air acts as one of the electrodes while another electrode made from a porous metal (the anode) absorbs all of the oxygen that enters it.
Metal ion batteries are rechargeable secondary batteries with similar function to lithium ion batteries (LIB). Unlike LIBs, metal ion batteries can be discharged without causing irreversible battery degradation. One such example is sodium ion (Na+), potassium ion (K+) and magnesium ion (Mg2+) storage systems.
What are the disadvantages of lithium ion batteries?
Batteries are the Achilles heel of modern society. We all depend on them in some way, whether they power our cell phones or cars; for most people, there is at least one device that uses a little pocket-sized lithium ion battery to stay alive. The problems with these batteries are well known: They’re expensive (and getting more so by the year), don’t last very long and pose environmental risks when disposed of improperly. But lately, researchers have discovered even bigger hazards associated with these tiny energy packs.
Do lithium ion batteries need a special charger?
If you are using the batteries in an application with no user controls (e.g., RC toys), then all you need is a charger that is rated to charge your battery.
If you are using the batteries in an application where you can control the charging (e.g., cell phones), then there may be special requirements for both the charger and the connection between the charger and the battery. However, just because a charger meets all of these requirements does not mean it will work properly.
Can I use a trickle charger on a lithium battery?
Let’s start with the basics. Lithium batteries are different from lead-acid batteries in that they do not like to be fully discharged often, nor do they like to sit around completely drained of energy (they even explode if you do this too much). A trickle charger is usually meant for a lead-acid battery or another type of rechargeable battery that needs to be charged slowly. They’re not made for lithium batteries.