The first lithium-ion battery appeared in a Sony Walkman in the 1990s. Since then, the number of applications has soared dramatically. One of the most intriguing aspects of lithium-ion batteries is their simplicity. Who would have thought that a lithium cobalt oxide electrode would team so well with its graphite counterpart …
Three More Intriguing Aspects Of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Breaking Up and Making Up Electricity
Each time we charge a lithium-ion battery, electricity moves from the wall socket to the battery, or to each of its cells. This energy forces the lithium ions and electrons to make way for it, and travel across to the graphite side.
Once all the ions and electrons have completed their journey, the battery is now fully charged. But if we unplug the device and start using it, then we slowly drain down the stored energy. The electrons and ions gradually return to their home where they came from.
The Electricity Cost of Using Apps
The energy burden of using apps in phones and laptops, is another intriguing aspect of lithium-ion batteries. Each time we use our email, camera, touch screen, or phone, we move ions and electrons back to where they came from. App updates may happen in the background, but they still cost us battery time.
Why Do Lithium-Ion Batteries Get Warm?
Batteries deliver electricity to devices or electrical circuits. But this activity generates mild heat, and the more apps we have, the warmer the batteries become. Recharging a battery delivers the energy in the opposite direction as we described, but that generates heat too.
Lithium-ion batteries are reaching the stage where we are testing the technology to its limits. Solid state and sodium ion batteries are waiting in the wings. They may burst onto the world stage soon.
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Don’t Deep Discharge Lithium-Ion Batteries
