Lithium-ion batteries are dominating the consumer market. Today, companies are boosting sales of their portable electric, energy solutions, and e-transports with these rechargeable batteries. But, what are lithium-ion batteries in simple words? Contact online >>
Lithium-ion batteries are dominating the consumer market. Today, companies are boosting sales of their portable electric, energy solutions, and e-transports with these rechargeable batteries. But, what are lithium-ion batteries in simple words?
Turns out, Li-ion battery technology is nothing new! The first-ever Li cell came out in 1991. Two decades later, in 2019, John Goodenough, Akira Yashino, and M. Stanley contributed significantly to the development of modern lithium batteries and received the Nobel Prize in chemistry.
Since then, lithium-ion batteries have revolutionized the rechargeable batteries market across industries. Let''s learn more about how these batteries work, their types, and applications.
Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries, smaller in size with better power capabilities and high energy density. These batteries have single or multiple cells carrying Li ions with a protective circuit board. Lithium-ion batteries are typically used to charge devices like smartphones, electric vehicles, etc.
For starters, lithium-ion battery technology consists of the following.
In a Li-ion battery, the two electrodes store the ions. These ions move between the anode and cathode, which creates the electric current and powers the electronics.
Now, let''s discuss it in detail. First, the electrolyte carries the positively charged ions from the negative to the positive electrode, and vice versa. This produces electrons in the negative electrode, creating a charge on the other side of the current collector.
The generated current then flows through the device being powered, so it reaches the negative current collector. At the end, a separator is placed to block the electrons inside the battery, while maintaining the exchange of lithium ions.
When you are charging the battery, the lithium ions from the cathode get separated from the electrons. These ions move from the cathode to the anode, passing through the electrolyte. Finally, they recombine with the electrons and neutralize electrically.
During the discharging cycle, the opposite occurs. The ions move from the cathode, pass through the electrolyte, and reach the anode.
Eventually, this lithium ions movement creates an electric potential difference, called voltage. Connecting your device to the battery setup forces the electrons to power it.
Lithium-ion batteries are not the same and have different chemical compositions, depending on the electrode material. Let''s discuss them in detail along with their best-suited applications.
LFP batteries use phosphate and graphite carbon as the positive and negative electrode, respectively. These substitutes are the safest, have longer life cycles, and have good electrochemical stability. LFPs are cheaper than other nickel-based options but offer less specific energy. Hence, you will find these batteries in short-range electric vehicles (EVs).
Unlike LFPs, LCO batteries have high specific energy but shorter life spans. These batteries are thermally unstable and not fit for high-load applications. LCOs are generally preferred for low-power applications like smartphones, laptops, etc.
NMCs use nickel, cobalt, and manganese to give an all-round performance. These batteries have higher proportions of nickel for energy density and long life. Moreover, the use of manganese and cobalt promotes thermal stability. NMCs work great in powering electric powertrains like scooters, e-bikes, etc.
NCA also uses higher nickel proportions, promoting energy density and power. However, these batteries use aluminum to promote stability, making them pricier and less safe. NCAs are used to power high-performance, high-load EV models like Tesla.
In all the above-mentioned batteries, the cathode composition differs. However, LTOs have a unique chemistry where they replace the anode surface from graphite to lithium titanate. This, with the cathode arrangement of LMO and NMC, offers better safety and longer life. Such batteries are used for uninterrupted power backups like emergency solar energy storage.
Let''s look at a few key areas where lithium-ion batteries are commonly used.
These batteries are a great emergency backup for power outages and inconsistencies. Vulnerable equipment like medical instruments, telecommunication setups, and technical setups gets an uninterrupted power supply with Li-ion batteries.
Lithium batteries have revolutionized the electric vehicle industry. Today, high and low-load electric vehicles use such arrangements to ensure a longer running life. Currently, these batteries are used in Tesla Model X, Model S, and Model 3 for power generation.
Today, mobile vehicles like e-bikes and wheelchairs use lithium batteries. It helps compact vehicles with longer lifespans, lightweight, and energy performance.
The high energy density and fast charging of rechargeable Li-ion batteries also make them excellent for charging gadgets like smartphones, smartwatches, etc. You will also find them being used in day-to-day handheld appliances like streamers, irons, and more.
Lithium batteries are used for solar and wind energy storage. It helps in stockpiling surplus energy for emergencies like sunless days, unexpected maintenance issues, etc.
Most consumer products today use lithium batteries as a selling feature. Here is what makes them attractive for buyers and sellers.
Lithium-ion batteries are top performers in energy density. Simply put, this density is the ability of a battery to store energy. Generally, lead-acid batteries have an energy density around 50-100 wh/kg, compared to lithium batteries with a range of 260-300 wh/kg.
An average lithium-ion battery has 50-60% of the weight of the traditional batteries. Hence, these substitutes work best for compact solutions like smartphones, e-bikes, e-readers, etc.
Lithium-ion batteries have no mattery effect. Batteries with a memory effect tend to remember repeated partial discharges, which causes them to lose their energy-storing capacity. Hence, with no backing memory, these batteries offer longer lifespans.
For instance, a lithium iron phosphate LiFePO4 used to power a boat lasts around 1000 to 10,000 cycles. In comparison, an SLA lead battery only lasts between 50 and 500 cycles. Moreover, the chemistry of Li-ion batteries also helps them accept current faster, promoting quicker charging than their counterparts.
Traditional batteries lose charging or self-discharge gradually. However, lithium batteries only have a 1.5-2% discharge rate while lead-acid batteries discharge at a 5% rate. Hence, using a lithium alternative in your electronics helps you retain the charge for the longest time.
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