A Li-ion battery or Lithium-ion battery is a rechargeable battery type in which during discharge, the lithium ions move through an electrolyte from the negative electrode to the positive electrode, and then during charging, they flow from the positive electrode to the negative electrode. An intercalated lithium compound is used by the lithium-ion batteries at the positive electrode as the material and the typically used compound at the negative electrode is graphite.
High energy density
Low self-discharge, no memory effect (other than LFP cells), and high energy density are possessed by the lithium-ion batteries. Cells are made for either prioritizing power density or energy. Although, they can be dangerous as they possess flammable electrolytes and they can result in fires and explosions if they are incorrectly charged or damaged.
Lithium-ion battery’s development
In 1985, Akira Yoshino made a prototype lithium-ion battery, based on research that was done earlier during the 1970-the 1980s by Koichi Mizushima, Rachid Yazami, M. Stanley Whittingham, and John Goodenough, and then in 1991, Yoshio Nishi led a team of Sony and Asahi Kasei which developed a commercial lithium-ion battery. Li-ion batteries are getting famous for aerospace and military applications. They are utilized typically for electric vehicles and portable electronics.
Properties of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Different kinds of lithium-ion batteries have different safety characteristics, cost, performance, and chemistry. Mostly, a graphite anode, a lithium cobalt oxide cathode material (LiCoO2), and lithium polymer batteries (with the electrolyte being the polymer gel) are used by the handheld electronics, as they provide high energy density when combined. Better and improved rate capability and longer lives are provided by lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide, lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4 spinel, or Li2MnO3-based lithium-rich layered materials, LMR-NMC), and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). Such batteries are utilized broadly for medical equipment, electric tools, and other functions. There is a broad utilization of NMC and its derivatives in electric vehicles.