What are Lithium-Ion Batteries?
Lithium-Ion batteries (Li-ion) are rechargeable batteries that use lithium as an electrochemical element to produce electricity. Li-ion batteries are the most widely used rechargeable battery technology because of their high energy density, low self-discharge, and lightness. They are used in several portable electronic devices, such as cell phones, laptops, power banks, e-bikes, and even electric cars.
Li-ion batteries typically consist of a positive electrode, negative electrode, and electrolyte. The positive and negative electrodes are made of compounds containing lithium, arranged in layers, separated by a porous separator, which impedes the flow of electrons but allows the passage of positive ions. During discharge of the battery, the positively charged lithium ions move through the separator and combine with electrons at the negative electrode to form a neutral lithium atom.
During a recharge cycle of the battery, the chemistry reverses, and the lithium atoms move back to the positive electrode, reversing the electronic flow. Due to their high energy density, rechargeable Li-ion batteries typically have a higher energy output and store more energy per unit weight compared to other battery technologies.
Overall, Li-ion batteries are lightweight, have a longer lifespan, and provide high performance compared to other battery types, making them a popular choice for portable electronic devices and energy storage systems.