Just about everything degrades through age, use, and interaction with the environment. Lithium-ion battery decline is no exception to this rule. Indeed, it is one of the main reasons why electric transport adoption is proceeding at a slower rate than we hoped. We came across a report in the MDPI open access journal of research, that we wanted to share with you today. Because we felt it drew the threads together nicely in a way that we all could understand.
Lithium-Ion Battery Decline and Capacity Loss
The way we use batteries, the extent to which we charge them, and the conditions in which we use them all affect the rate of lithium battery degradation. And this in turn affects lithium-ion battery lifespan and performance. The following key factors are particularly important to battery life:
- The ambient temperature at which we use batteries beyond our own comfort level.
- The depth of discharge we allow, and the level to which we recharge them regularly.
- The recharging rates that we apply regularly, and the charging mode that we select.
It follows from the above that we, as users, can and do influence the rate of lithium-ion battery decline.
How These Three Factors Affect Lithium-Ion Battery Performance
High ambient outside temperature transfers to the battery, accelerating solid electrolyte interphase development, and electrolyte oxidation. While low temperature increases internal resistance, and may encourage lithium plating causing irreversible capacity loss.
Deep discharges cause thermal and mechanical stress leading to structural changes. A lithium-ion battery holding 50% of its charge performs optimally. While a full battery charge accelerates wear through increased chemical reactivity.
High battery charging rates accelerate lithium-ion battery decline, because they cause thermal and mechanical stress. Lower rates are preferable, since they reduce battery wear.
Chemical degradation, including solid electrolyte interphase growth, loss of lithium inventory, loss of active materials, and electrolyte loss, also contribute to gradual capacity fade. There are however things we can do, as users, to retard the process.
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