Lithium Ion Battery : Working, Applications, Future Use Part-1

Hi Aspirants!

We are here with another interesting article to enhance your knowledge. We are already familiar with Ordinary batteries and Rechargeable batteries. In this article we are going to explore the Lithium Ion Batteries.

Capability of Li-ion battery of being from a tiny Li-ion battery that powers your smartwatch to the massive Li-ion batteries that power an electric car makes them versatile, efficient and most mandated.

Components of Li-Ion Battery

• Anode & Cathode : Store the lithium ions
• Separator & Electrolyte : The electrolyte carries positively charged lithium ions from the anode to the cathode and vice versa through the separator. The separator blocks the flow of electrons inside the battery, so that the entire system is not compromised.
• Two current collectors (positive and negative) : The movement of the lithium ions creates free electrons in the anode which creates a charge at the positive current collector.  The electrical current then flows from the current collector through a device being powered (cell phone, computer, etc.) to the negative current collector.

Note: The cathode plays a huge role in determining the characteristic of the battery. Both, the battery’s capacity and voltage are determined by the type of active material coated on the cathode. The active material, in this case, contains lithium ions. The higher the number of the ions, the bigger the capacity; and the higher the difference in potential between cathode and anode, higher the voltage.

How does Li-ion Battery works ?

As their name suggests, lithium-ion batteries are all about the movement of lithium ions: the ions move one way when the battery charges (when it's absorbing power); they move the opposite way when the battery discharges (when it's supplying power):

• During charging, lithium ions flow from the positive electrode(cathode) to the negative electrode(anode) through the electrolyte. Electrons also flow from the positive electrode to the negative electrode, but take the longer path around the outer circuit. The electrons and ions combine at the negative electrode and deposit lithium there.
• When no more ions will flow, the battery is fully charged and ready to use.
• During discharging, the ions flow back through the electrolyte from the negative electrode(anode) to the positive electrode(cathode). Electrons flow from the negative electrode to the positive electrode through the outer circuit, powering your laptop. When the ions and electrons combine at the positive electrode, lithium is deposited there.
• When all the ions have moved back, the battery is fully discharged and needs charging up again.

Applications of Li-Ion Battery

Li-ion batteries are available in all shapes and sizes. And that renders them to be the perfect option for power needs irrespective of the size of the system. Along with that, lithium-ion batteries offer power solutions across the spectrum- from energy storage solutions to portable energy solutions. Some most common applications are mentioned below:

• Power backups/UPS
• Mobile, Laptops, and other commonly used consumer electronic goods
• Electric mobility
• Energy Storage Systems
• Electric Vehicles
• Marine Vehicles
• Solar Energy Storage

Lithium-ion batteries power the lives of millions of people each day

Stay connected with BYJU'S Exam Prep as in our next article we will discuss the advantages, disadvantages current and future scenario of Lithium Ion Batteries.  

Hope you all find this article useful do share your feedback in comment box. We aim to have atleast 40 upvotes for this amazing technology, so appreciation from you all will motivate us to post more interesting content. 

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