Why Buy a Portable Lithium-Ion Battery?

Portable lithium-ion battery are a good source of energy to power your electronic gadgets. But if you want them to last long, always buy quality products from a reputable company.

They offer higher gravimetric and volumetric energy densities than nickel-cadmium batteries. They also have lower self-discharge rates and no memory effect.

High Energy Density

Li-ion batteries have a much higher energy density than previous battery technologies like nickel cadmium (NiCd) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH). High energy density allows portable lithium-ion battery to power devices that consume a lot of electricity, such as laptops and tablets.

The energy density of a battery is the amount of electrical energy it stores in proportion to its weight, measured in watt-hours per kilogram. The higher the energy density, the more energy a battery can deliver in a short period of time. This is important for power tools and other applications that require bursts of power.

Today’s Li-ion batteries typically have an energy density of 200-300 Wh/kg. The highest possible energy density for lithium-ion batteries would be 1,250 Wh/kg, but this requires heroic assumptions and technology advances.

Conventional Li-ion batteries consist of a graphite anode and a Li-transition metal oxide cathode. During the charge phase, Li-ions are intercalated between individual graphene layers of the anode to form lithium hexacarbide, while during the discharge cycle, Li-ions are inserted into the cathode through an active material called a polymer separator.

Most manufacturers recommend that you store your lithium-ion battery in a cool place, and they will degrade faster if stored at temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, never leave your battery unattended while charging or discharging. Doing so may cause metallic lithium plating on the surface of your battery cells.

Low Self Discharge

A portable lithium-ion battery has a lower self-discharge rate than nickel-based batteries and supercapacitors, so it retains its energy longer between uses. This makes it the preferred power source for high-drain devices that get frequent use, like digital cameras or GPS lifepo4 rechargeable battery units. It’s also good for moderate-drain devices that require a little time between recharges, such as clocks or TV remotes.

The electrodes in a lithium battery are made of lithium cobalt oxide (cathode) and graphite (anode). An electrolyte of liquid or gel separates the electrodes, with electrons moving from the cathode to the anode during the discharge process and the reverse during the charge process. This design has a wide range of practical applications in portable consumer electronics, cordless power tools, digital cameras and laptops, as well as e-cigarettes, children’s toys and large appliances.

Because they can be charged and discharged many times without loss of capacity, lithium-ion cells have a relatively low cost per energy. This has driven a rapid development of new devices that take advantage of their small size and high performance, including electric vehicles and energy storage systems for renewable energy and energy efficiency. While some of these batteries can be removed easily from the products they power, others are part of closed-circuit systems LiFePO4 Rechargeable Battery Manufacturer where it is impractical to do so. If you have a battery in one of these systems, contact the manufacturer for proper disposal.

Long Lifespan

The long lifespan of lithium batteries is one of the reasons why many devices that are rechargeable, like cordless power tools or electric cars, use them. These battery types offer higher energy density and longer runtimes pound for pound than lead-acid counterparts.

Because of their long lifespans and high energy density, lithium-ion batteries are also a popular choice for portable medical devices such as pacemakers and hearing aids. Their long lifespans and low self-discharge rates make them ideal for these applications where size is important.

Battery manufacturers often specify a battery’s cycle life in terms of number of complete discharge cycles. However, these numbers may not be indicative of the battery’s true performance because the definition of a “cycle” is not always consistent across devices or even battery brands (see BU-501: Basics About Discharging for more information). Internal resistance and temperature are more reliable indicators of a battery’s health than cycle count.

Lithium batteries have a very long shelf life and are durable when stored properly. They are also able to retain their charge over time, which makes them perfect for backup applications such as home energy storage or hybrid and electric vehicles. Moreover, they don’t suffer from the memory effect that plagues other types of batteries. To maximize the life of your lithium-ion battery, keep it at room temperature and recharge it when it is close to depleting its capacity.

Safety

Lithium batteries are safe and have low failure rates compared to other rechargeable battery types. However, the way that lithium-ion batteries produce power generates heat which can lead to fires when damaged or overheated.

Although reports of devices powered by lithium batteries catching fire are not uncommon, the majority of these incidents can be prevented. Most of these events have been caused by internal short circuits resulting from design, manufacturing or integration issues. Other factors include leaving PEDs on chargers for extended periods of time, using cheap knock-off batteries and overcharging (both intentional and unintentional).

Fortunately, these fire incidents are rare due to several safety features implemented in the design of lithium-ion battery packs. For example, most packs have dividers to prevent the thermal runaway of a failing cell from spreading to adjacent cells. In addition, the peak voltage of each cell during charge and discharge is limited to reduce the risk of overheating.

It is also essential to only use genuine and authorized batteries and charging equipment with a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) certificate. Lastly, making passengers aware of the dangers of carrying PEDs on board aircrafts is an important prevention measure. This includes not only raising passenger awareness about the limitations on the amount of Lithium batteries that can be carried on flights, but also making them aware of the specific risks associated with PEDs getting trapped in movable seat mechanisms and crushing the battery.