Ions are at the heart of most rechargeable batteries in phones, laptops, cameras, and electric vehicles. But where do these tiny particles come from originally? The answer begins with lithium atoms.
That Begs The Question Where Does Lithium Come From?
Lithium is a chemical element we find naturally in rocks, mineral deposits and underground brines. Battery manufacturers create lithium compounds from these natural sources, and process these into materials suitable for batteries.
How The Lithium Atoms Become Positive Lithium Ions
Lithium atoms have three protons and three electrons. A lithium atom can lose one electron relatively easily. When it does so, it becomes a positively charged lithium ion that we abbreviate as ‘Li’. This is the unique form of lithium that moves inside a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
The Battery Did Not Create Lithium-Ions, It Released Them
However, the battery does not manufacture new lithium ions every time you charge it. The lithium is already permanently present inside the battery.
During charging, these ions move from one electrode to the other through the battery’s electrolyte. When the battery supplies electricity , the ions travel back in the opposite direction.
Now Meet The Electrons That Carry The Battery Charge
We now have the answer to the question, where do lithium ions come from? The next one is where does the charge go? The electrons cannot travel through the electrolyte in the same way as ions.
Instead, they travel through an external electrical circuit, usually a device. That movement of electrons provides the electric current that powers your phone etc. So, although we often talk about a battery ‘making electricity’, that is not quite what happens.
The Battery Uses Chemical Reactions To Move Electrons
This is how a lithium-ion battery uses chemical reactions to deliver a charge to a device. It’s such a simple concept, that it’s hard to believe the impact this has had on our world.
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