Week 1 Understanding Different Battery Chemistry

1.

lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery :

A lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is an advanced battery technology that uses lithium ions as a key component of its electrochemistry. During a discharge cycle, lithium atoms in the anode are ionized and separated from their electrons. The lithium ions move from the anode and pass through the electrolyte until they reach the cathode, where they recombine with their electrons and electrically neutralize. The lithium ions are small enough to be able to move through a micro-permeable separator between the anode and cathode. In part because of lithium’s small size (third only to hydrogen and helium), Li-ion batteries are capable of having a very high voltage and charge storage per unit mass and unit volume.

Li-ion batteries can use a number of different materials as electrodes. The most common combination is that of lithium cobalt oxide (cathode) and graphite (anode), which is most commonly found in portable electronic devices such as cellphones and laptops. Other cathode materials include lithium manganese oxide (used in hybrid electric and electric automobiles) and lithium iron phosphate. Li-ion batteries typically use ether (a class of organic compounds) as an electrolyte.

advantages of Li-ion batteries :

Compared to the other high-quality rechargeable battery technologies (nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal-hydride), Li-ion batteries have a number of advantages. They have one of the highest energy densities of any battery technology today (100-265 Wh/kg or 250-670 Wh/L). In addition, Li-ion battery cells can deliver up to 3.6 Volts, 3 times higher than technologies such as Ni-Cd or Ni-MH. This means that they can deliver large amounts of current for high-power applications, which has Li-ion batteries are also comparatively low maintenance, and do not require scheduled cycling to maintain their battery life. Li-ion batteries have no memory effect, a detrimental process where repeated partial discharge/charge cycles can cause a battery to ‘remember’ a lower capacity. This is an advantage over both Ni-Cd and Ni-MH, which display this effect. Li-ion batteries also have low self-discharge rate of around 1.5-2% per month. They do not contain toxic cadmium, which makes them easier to dispose of than Ni-Cd batteries.

Due to these advantages, Li-ion batteries have displaced Ni-Cd batteries as the market leader in portable electronic devices (such as smartphones and laptops). Li-ion batteries are also used to power electrical systems for some aerospace applications, notable in the new and more environmentally friendly Boeing 787, where weight is a significant cost factor. From a clean energy perspective, much of the promise of Li-ion technology comes from their potential applications in battery-powered cars. Currently, the bestselling electric cars, the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model S, both use Li-ion batteries as their primary fuel source.

Disadvantages of Li-ion batteries :

Despite their technological promise, Li-ion batteries still have a number of shortcomings, particularly with regards to safety. Li-ion batteries have a tendency to overheat, and can be damaged at high voltages. In some cases this can lead to thermal runaway and combustion. This has caused significant problems, notably the grounding of the Boeing 787 fleet after onboard battery fires were reported. Because of the risks associated with these batteries, a number of shipping companies refuse to perform bulk shipments of batteries by plane. Li-ion batteries require safety mechanisms to limit voltage and internal pressures, which can increase weight and limit performance in some cases. Li-ion batteries are also subject to aging, meaning that they can lose capacity and frequently fail after a number of years. Another factor limiting their widespread adoption is their cost, which is around 40% higher than Ni-Cd. Addressing these issues is a key component for current research into the technology. Finally, despite the high energy density of Li-ion compared to other kinds of batteries, they are still around a hundred times less energy dense than gasoline (which contains 12,700 Wh/kg by mass or 8760 Wh/L by volume).

Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO)

Lithium cobalt oxide batteries are manufactured from lithium carbonate and cobalt and are also known as lithium cobaltate or lithium-ion cobalt batteries. These batteries are used in cell phones, laptops, and electronic cameras because of their high specific energy. They have a cobalt oxide cathode and a graphite carbon anode, and lithium ions migrate from the anode to the cathode during discharge, with the flow reversing when the battery is charged.

This battery has a few disadvantages, including short battery life and low specific power. We also want to let you know that these batteries are not as safe as other varieties. Despite this, they are a popular choice for cell phones and other portable electronic devices because of their properties.

Lithium Manganese Oxide (LMO)

Lithium manganese oxide batteries are sometimes known as lithium manganate or lithium-ion manganese batteries, or li-manganese or manganese spinel batteries. The technology for this sort of battery was initially discovered in the 1980s, with the first publication in the Materials Research Bulletin in 1983. Moli Energy manufactured the first commercial lithium-ion cells using lithium manganese oxide as the cathode material in 1996.

High-temperature stability distinguishes lithium manganese oxide batteries from others, which are also safer than other lithium-ion battery types. As a result, they’re frequently found in medical equipment and devices, but they can also be used in power tools, electric motorcycles, and other applications. Lithium manganese oxide batteries can also be used to power laptop computers and electric vehicles.

Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)

Phosphate is used as a cathode in lithium iron phosphate batteries, often known as li-phosphate batteries. They have low resistance qualities, which improve their thermal stability and safety

Durability and a long lifecycle are other advantages – fully charged batteries can be kept with no effect on the battery’s overall charge life. When the lengthy battery life of Li-phosphate batteries is considered, they are frequently the most cost-effective option. The lower voltage of the lithium-phosphate battery, on the other hand, means that it has less energy than other lithium batteries.

As a result, these batteries are frequently used in electric bikes and other applications requiring a long lifecycle and high levels of safety. These batteries are also commonly used in electric vehicles.

Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC)

A cathode combination of nickel, manganese, and cobalt is one of the most successful Li-ion systems. These systems, like Li-manganese, can be modified to serve as Energy Cells or Power Cells.

NMC in a 18650 cell for moderate load conditions has a capacity of about 2,800mAh and can produce 4A to 5A; NMC in the same cell can be optimized for specific power. For example, it can have a capacity of just about 2,000mAh but can deliver a continuous discharge current of 20A.

The capacity of a silicon-based anode can be increased to 4,000mAh and beyond, but at the cost of reduced loading capability and shorter cycle life.

The anode grows and shrinks with charge and discharge, making the cell mechanically unstable. Silicon added to graphite has the disadvantage of growing and shrinking with charge and discharge, making the cell mechanically unstable.

The combination of nickel and manganese is the key to NMC’s success. Table salt is an example of this; the major constituents, sodium, and chloride, are both harmful on their own, but when combined, they act as seasoning salt and a food preservative. Manganese has the advantage of developing a spinel structure to create low internal resistance but has low specific energy. Nickel has high specific energy but is unstable. When the metals are combined, their strengths are amplified.

For power tools, e-bikes, and other electric powertrains, NMC is the battery of choice. The cathode is commonly made up of one-third nickel, one-third manganese, and one-third cobalt, or 1-1-1. This creates a distinctive blend while also lowering the cost of raw materials due to the lower cobalt percentage. NCM, which consists of 5 parts nickel, 3 parts cobalt, and 2 parts manganese, is another excellent combination (5-3-2). It’s possible to make other combinations with different amounts of cathode materials.

To increase capacity, new electrolytes and additives are used that enable charging to 4.4V/cell and higher. There is a trend toward NMC-blended Li-ion since the system is cost-effective and provides good performance. Nickel, manganese, and cobalt are three active materials that may be easily combined to suit a wide range of automotive and energy storage systems (EES) applications that require frequent cycling. The NMC family is becoming more diverse.

Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (NCA)

NCA batteries, or lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide batteries, are making their way in electric vehicles and grid storage.

Although NCA batteries are not widely used in consumer electronics, they have great potential in the automobile industry. NCA batteries offer a high-energy choice with a long lifespan, but they are less safe than other lithium-ion battery types and are rather expensive. To ensure driver safety, NCA batteries must be accompanied by monitoring systems.

Given the widespread use of NCA batteries in electric vehicles, demand for these batteries may increase as the number of electric vehicles grows.

Lithium Titanate oxide

Finally, lithium titanate, often known as li-titanate, is a type of battery that has a growing number of uses. Because of its superior nanotechnology, the lithium-titanate battery has an extremely rapid recharge time.

Li-titanate batteries are being employed by makers of electric vehicles and bicycles, and this type of battery has the potential to be used in electric buses for public transit. However, these batteries have a lower intrinsic voltage or energy density than other lithium-ion battery types, which might cause problems when it comes to efficiently power automobiles. Despite this, lithium titanate batteries have a higher density than non-lithium-ion batteries, which is a benefit.

These batteries could be used for military and aerospace applications, as well as storing wind and solar energy and constructing smart grids. Furthermore, according to Battery Space, these batteries could be employed in power system system-critical backups

lets see the types of chemical reaction in each type of battery

2.

What is the difference between a lithium battery and a lithium ion battery?

The difference between lithium and lithium-ion batteries is that one is not rechargeable (primary cell) and the other can be recharged (secondary cell). In addition to this, Lithium batteries have a shelf life up to four times longer than lithium-ion batteries and are also much cheaper and easier to make.

A Simple comparission of six lithium-ion battery types :

Lithium-ion batteries are used in most aspects of our everyday lives. Most devices like smartphones and laptops cannot operate without these batteries. Lithium-ion batteries have also become very important in the field of electromobility as it is now the battery of choice in most electric vehicles. Its high specific energy gives it an advantage over other batteries.

There are different types of lithium-ion batteries and the main difference between them lies in their cathode materials. Different kinds of lithium-ion batteries offer different features, with trade-offs between specific power, specific energy, safety, lifespan, cost, and performance.

The six lithium-ion battery types that we will be comparing are Lithium Cobalt Oxide, Lithium Manganese Oxide, Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide, Lithium Iron Phosphate, Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide, and Lithium Titanate. Firstly, an understanding of the key terms below will allow for a simpler and easier comparison.

Specific energy: This defines the battery capacity in weight (Wh/kg). The capacity relates to the runtime. Products requiring long runtimes at moderate load are optimized for high specific energy.

Specific power: It's the ability to deliver a high current and indicates loading capability. Batteries for power tools are made for high specific power and come with a reduced specific energy.

A high specific power usually comes with reduced specific energy and vice versa. The pouring of bottled water in a glass is a perfect analogy of the relationship between specific power and specific energy. The water in the bottle can be thought of as specific energy. Pouring the water at a slow rate doesn’t provide enough force (low specific power) but the water lasts longer in the bottle (high specific energy). On the other hand, if we pour the water out at a faster rate it provides a greater impact (high specific power). However, the water wouldn’t last very long in the bottle ( low specific energy).

Performance: This measures how well the battery works over a wide range of temperatures. Most batteries are sensitive to heat and cold and require climate control. Heat reduces life, and cold lowers performance temporarily.

Lifespan: This reflects cycle life and longevity and is related to factors such as temperature, depth of discharge, and load. Hot climates accelerate capacity loss. Cobalt blended lithium-ion batteries also usually have a graphite anode that limits the cycle life.

Safety: This relates to factors such as the thermal stability of the materials used in the batteries. The materials should have the ability to sustain high temperatures before becoming unstable. Instability can lead to thermal runaway in which flaming gases are vented. Fully charging the battery and keeping it beyond the designated age reduces safety.

Cost: Demand for electric vehicles has generally been lower than anticipated and this is mainly due to the cost of lithium-ion batteries. Hence cost is a huge factor when selecting the type of lithium-ion battery.

Now that we have an understanding of the major battery characteristics, we will use them as the basis for the comparison of our six types of lithium-ion batteries. The characteristics are rated as either high, moderate, or low. The table below provides a simple comparison of the six lithium-ion battery types.

Lithium-ion battery Types	SP	SE	SF	LS	CS	PF
Lithium Cobalt Oxide	L	H	L	L	L	M
Lithium Manganese Oxide	M	M	M	L	L	L
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide	M	H	M	M	L	M
Lithium Iron Phosphate	H	L	H	H	L	M
Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide	M	H	L	M	M	M
Lithium Titanate	M	L	H	H	H	H

• SPstands for specific power
• SEstands for specific energy
• SFstands for safety
• LSstands for lifespan
• CSstands for cost
• PFstands for performance
• L stands for low
• M stands for moderate
• H stands for high

Thank you ;

B. V. N. SANDEEP