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Most lithium-ion batteries for portable applications are cobalt-based. The system consists of a cobalt oxide positive electrode (cathode) and a graphite carbon in the negative electrode (anode). One of the main advantages of the cobalt-based battery is its high energy density. Long run-time makes this chemistry attractive for cell phones, laptops and cameras.
Lithium-ion has not yet reached full maturity and the technology is continually improving. The anode in today's cells is made up of a graphite mixture and the cathode is a combination of lithium and other choice metals. It should be noted that all materials in a battery have a theoretical energy density. With lithium-ion, the anode is well optimized and little improvements can be gained in terms of design changes. The cathode, however, shows promise for further enhancements. Battery research is therefore focusing on the cathode material. Another part that has potential is the electrolyte. The electrolyte serves as a reaction medium between the anode and the cathode.
The battery industry is making incremental capacity gains of 8-10% per year. This trend is expected to continue. This, however, is a far cry from Moore's Law that specifies a doubling of transistors on a chip every 18 to 24 months. Translating this increase to a battery would mean a doubling of capacity every two years. Instead of two years, lithium-ion has doubled its energy capacity in 10 years.
Today's lithium-ion comes in many "flavours" and the differences in the composition are mostly related to the cathode material. Table 1 below summarizes the most commonly used lithium-ion on the market today. For simplicity, we summarize the chemistries into four groupings, which are Cobalt, Manganese, NCM and Phosphate.
Chemical name
Material
Abbreviation
Short form
Notes
Lithium Cobalt Oxide1Also Lithium Cobalate or lithium-ion-cobalt)
LiCoO2
(60% Co)
LCO
Li-cobalt
High capacity; for cell laptop, camera
Lithium
Manganese Oxide1
Also Lithium Manganate
or lithium-ion-manganese
LiMn2O4
LMO
Li-manganese, or spinel
Most safe; lower capacity than Li-cobalt but high specific power and long life.
Power tools,
e-bikes, EV, medical, hobbyist.
Lithium
Iron Phosphate1
LiFePO4
LFP
Li-phosphate
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide1, also lithium-manganese-cobalt-oxide
LiNiMnCoO2
(1020% Co)
NMC
NMC
Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide1
LiNiCoAlO2
9% Co)
NCA
NCA
Gaining importance
in electric powertrain and grid storage
Lithium Titanate2
Li4Ti5O12
LTO
Li-titanate
Table 1: Reference names for Li-ion batteries.We willuse the short form when appropriate.
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1 Cathode material
2 Anode material
The cobalt-based lithium-ion appeared first in , introduced by Sony. This battery chemistry gained quick acceptance because of its high energy density. Possibly due to lower energy density, spinel-based lithium-ion had a slower start. When introduced in , the world demanded longer runtime above anything else. With the need for high current rate on many portable devices, spinel has now moved to the frontline and is in hot demand. The requirements are so great that manufacturers producing these batteries are unable to meet the demand. This is one of the reasons why so little advertising is done to promote this product. E-One Moli Energy (Canada) is a leading manufacturer of the spinel lithium-ion in cylindrical form. They are specializing in the and cell formats. Other major players of spinel-based lithium-ion are Sanyo, Panasonic and Sony.
Sony is focusing on the nickel-cobalt manganese (NCM) version. The cathode incorporates cobalt, nickel and manganese in the crystal structure that forms a multi-metal oxide material to which lithium is added. The manufacturer offers a range of different products within this battery family, catering to users that either needs high energy density or high load capability. It should be noted that these two attributes could not be combined in one and the same package; there is a compromise between the two. Note that the NCM charges to 4.10V/cell, 100mV lower than cobalt and spinel. Charging this battery chemistry to 4.20V/cell would provide higher capacities but the cycle life would be cut short. Instead of the customary 800 cycles achieved in a laboratory environment, the cycle count would be reduced to about 300.
The newest addition to the lithium-ion family is the A123 System in which nano-phosphate materials are added in the cathode. It claims to have the highest power density in W/kg of a commercially available lithium-ion battery. The cell can be continuously discharged to 100% depth-of-discharge at 35C and can endure discharge pulses as high as 100C. The phosphate-based system has a nominal voltage of about 3.3V/cell and peak charge voltage is 3.60V. This is lower than the cobalt-based lithium-ion and the battery will require a designated charger. Valance Technology was the first to commercialize the phosphate-based lithium-ion and their cells are sold under the Saphionâ name.
In Figure 4 we compare the energy density (Wh/kg) of the three lithium-ion chemistries and place them against the traditional lead acid, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal-hydride. One can see the incremental improvement of Manganese and Phosphate over older technologies. Cobalt offers the highest energy density but is thermally less stable and cannot deliver high load currents.
Energy Density (Wh/kg) is a measure of how much energy a battery can hold. The higher the energy density, the longer the runtime will be. Lithium-ion with cobalt cathodes offer the highest energy densities. Typical applications are cell phones, laptops and digital cameras.
Power Density (W/kg) indicates how much power a battery can deliver on demand. The focus is on power bursts, such as drilling through heavy steel, rather than runtime. Manganese and phosphate-based lithium-ion, as well as nickel-based chemistries, are among the best performers. Batteries with high power density are used for power tools, medical devices and transportation systems.
An analogy between energy and power densities can be made with a water bottle. The size of the bottle is the energy density, while the opening denotes the power density. A large bottle can carry a lot of water, while a large opening can pore it quickly. The large container with a wide mouth is the best combination.
For the last 10 years or so, the nominal voltage of lithium-ion was known to be 3.60V/cell. This was a rather handy figure because it made up for three nickel-based batteries (1.2V/cell) connected in series. Using the higher cell voltages for lithium-ion reflects in better watt/hours readings on paper and poses a marketing advantage, however, the equipment manufacturer will continue assuming the cell to be 3.60V.
The nominal voltage of a lithium-ion battery is calculated by taking a fully charged battery of about 4.20V, fully discharging it to about 3.00V at a rate of 0.5C while measuring the average voltage.
Because of the lower internal resistance, the average voltage of a spinel system will be higher than that of the cobalt-based equivalent. Pure spinel has the lowest internal resistance and the nominal cell voltage is 3.80V. The exception again is the phosphate-based lithium-ion. This system deviates the furthest from the conventional lithium-ion system
Batteries live longer if treated in a gentle manner. High charge voltages, excessive charge rate and extreme load conditions have a negative effect on battery life. The longevity is often a direct result of the environmental stresses applied. The following guidelines suggest ways to prolong battery life.
-The time at which the battery stays at 4.20/cell should be as short as possible. Prolonged high voltage promotes corrosion, especially at elevated temperatures. Spinel is less sensitive to high voltage.
-3.92V/cell is the best upper voltage threshold for cobalt-based lithium-ion. Charging batteries to this voltage level has been shown to double cycle life. Lithium-ion systems for defense applications make use of the lower voltage threshold. The negative is a much lower capacity.
-The charge current of Li-ion should be moderate (0.5C for cobalt-based lithium-ion). The lower charge current reduces the time in which the cell resides at 4.20V. A 0.5C charge only adds marginally to the charge time over 1C because the topping charge will be shorter. A high current charge tends to push the voltage into voltage limit prematurely.
-Do not discharge lithium-ion too deeply. Instead, charge it frequently. Lithium-ion does not have memory problems like nickel-cadmium batteries. No deep discharges are needed for conditioning.
-Do not charge lithium-ion at or below freezing temperature. Although accepting charge, an irreversible plating of metallic lithium will occur that compromises the safety of the pack.
Not only does a lithium-ion battery live longer with a slower charge rate; moderate discharge rates also help. Figure 5 shows the cycle life as a function of charge and discharge rates. Observe the improved laboratory performance on a charge and discharge rate of 1C compared to 2 and 3C.
Battery experts agree that the longevity of lithium-ion is shortened by other factors than charge and discharge rates. Even though incremental improvements can be achieved with careful use, our environment and the services required are not always conducive for optimal battery life. In this respect, the battery behaves much like us humans - we cannot always live a life that caters to achieve maximum life span.
Battery technology has come a long way in recent years, with new and improved options constantly hitting the market. One such option gaining widespread use in energy storage and electric vehicles is sodium-ion batteries, such as the sodium cells.
In this article, we will discuss what exactly a battery is, where you can use it, the different types available, and why a sodium-ion battery is a smart pick over other battery options. Lets get to it.
Lets start with the basics. A battery, or a cell, typically refers to a cylindrical rechargeable battery. You may be wondering what the means. It simply indicates the batterys physical dimensions, with the 26 and 70 representing the diameter and length of the battery in millimeters, respectively.
Compared to the more common battery, battery is bigger and offers a higher capacity and power output. These batteries come in various chemical compositions, with lithium-ion batteries being the most common. However, the sodium cells are becoming more popular in resent years.
Now, to what a sodium cell is, it is basically a battery that utilizes sodium ions instead of the conventional lithium ions as the charge carriers. Sodium ions are similar to lithium ions in terms of their ability to move between the electrodes of the battery, but they have some advantages over lithium ions, which we will discuss later on.
batteries are widely used in many devices that we use in our daily lives. They power everything from flashlights to power banks and drones to electric vehicles. Even the device youre currently reading this article on, whether a laptop or a smartphone, is likely powered by a battery. These batteries are also used in power tools and to store energy generated by home solar power system and wind turbines.
Not all cells are the same. There are different types based on the materials the cathode and anode are made of. The most common types include:
Although there are so many types of battery cells, sodium-ion battery (SIB) has its own unique advantages. The materials used for sodium batteries are more abundant, therefore have more advantages in environmental protection than lithium batteries.
At the same time, since most of the chemical components used in sodium batteries are non-toxic and renewable, the waste generated is also less polluting to the environment.
This is one question that comes up often. Generally, the charging of sodium-ion batteries usually takes a few hours, depending on the batterys capacity, the charger being used, and the charging current.
On average, it takes around 3-4 hours to fully charge a sodium-ion battery using a standard charger. You can use this formula to calculate the charging time with the capacity of the battery and the charging current of the charger:
Charging time (hours) = battery capacity (mAh) ÷ charging current (mA) × 1.2 (coefficient)
Understanding how to properly maintain your sodium cell to maximize its lifespan and performance is crucial. We have gathered some key maintenance tips for you to follow:
Here are some steps to follow to ensure you purchase the best sodium cell on the market:
TYCORUN provides a trusted source for high quality sodium-ion batteries. With over a decade of experience in manufacturing and supplying lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, We have been a reputable battery provider with full safety certifications. We have a variety of batteries, each with different capacities, currents, cycle lives, and safety features. So you have a range of options based on your needs and budget.
Lets address some common questions about the cell and the Sodium-Ion Battery:
Yes, generally, cells are larger than cells of the same chemical, and a larger size typically means a greater energy storage capacity and higher output power.
The choice between a and battery depends on your specific requirements. batteries have a higher battery capacity and output power, but it has drawbacks. A battery is heavier and larger than a cell, resulting in more weight for the device it will be used in.
Ultimately, choosing between a cell and a cell depends on balancing capacity and current versus weight and size for your application.
Sodium-ion batteries are better than lithium-ion batteries in some aspects but not in all. Sodium-ion batteries have some advantages over lithium-ion batteries in terms of cost, availability, high and low temperature performance, and environmental impact.
However, sodium-ion batteries also have some disadvantages compared to lithium-ion batteries in terms of energy density, self-discharge rate, and storage stability.
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