After we fit a lithium-ion battery in a device, we can still be largely in the dark about how it works. Sure, the device comes on if the battery has a charge, and there’s no sign of anything overheating. But we may have no idea how the battery actually powers the device. No worries, most folk don’t understand the mysteries of lithium-ion batteries either, so you are not alone.
Let’s Unpack the Mysteries of Lithium-Ion Batteries Together
Most lithium-ion batteries have a positive metal-oxide electrode where they store their energy in the forms of ions. These are atoms which carry a positive electrical charge.
But most lithium-ion batteries also have a negative carbon graphite electrode ready to attract those ions. That’s not all there is to the mysteries of lithium-ion batteries but we are off to a good start.
Now we would not want to have those ions flying around in an uncontrolled fashion inside a lithium-ion battery. And so there are two control mechanisms inside that regulate the process. The first of these is a separator that prevents the electrodes touching and short-circuiting.
But the second control mechanism performs an even more important function. This electrolyte substance allows the ions to flow between the terminals, while nothing else disturbs their chemistry. By now you maybe wondering how this process actually powers your device.
So How Does the Energy Reach Your Device?
The electrodes connect to current collectors we call terminals, that protrude through the battery case. When we connect our device to these in a battery holding positive charge, several things happen:
- The ions move through the electrolyte from the positive to the negative electrode inside the battery.
- Meanwhile electrons, which are static charges, move via the terminals in the opposite direction and through the device.
- This second movement is the electrical current that powers the device. It also restores equilibrium inside the battery.
We reverse these two flows when we recharge a battery. The ions return to their original position in the positive electrode. You now have a basic understanding of the mysteries of lithium-ion batteries. You will find more battery information on this site.
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