Long-lasting lithium-titanate batteries have several strong points, although lithium-ion chemistry beats them hands-down in terms of voltage. We explore this option that none-the-less has a number of niche applications. Because it has several advantages including greater safety, and much longer cycle life too.
Vital Statistics of Lithium-Titanate Batteries
Lithium-titanate chemistry delivers a relatively unexciting 2.3 volts, and just manages to achieve 100 watt-hours per-kilogram energy density. But, on the upside, it recycles many thousands of times, making it a leave-it and forget-about-it possibility.
But that’s not the end of the benefits of these long-lasting lithium-titanate batteries. They tolerate a wider range of operating temperatures, and can charge and discharge faster than their other lithium stablemates too.
But on the downside they cost more, so why worry about them in the first place? Well, for starters, they offer a higher range of safety and last a very long time. Perhaps this is why they play a role in mobile medical devices.
What’s Inside These Long-Lasting Batteries?
Lithium-titanate batteries are similar to the lithium-ion design, but with one notable exception. That’s because their anodes are coated with lithium-titanate crystals, instead of lithium-ion’s carbon.
Applying a multi-faceted crystalline structure like that, makes a big difference. It increases the anode surface from three square-meters-per-gram, to 100 square-meters-per-gram according to Wikipedia.
This modification allows electrons to enter and leave the anode much faster, and ions to travel quicker between the electrodes too. And as a result, long-lasting lithium-titanate batteries charge much faster and safer than lithium-ion could ever do.
The reduced possibility of dendrites forming that follows, means some lithium-titanate batteries have achieved 6,000 to 30,000 charge / recharge cycles, while retaining 80% of their storage capacity after the first 1,000 iterations.
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