Written By Taylan Dalkan
Edited By Kathryn Whitesell-O'Melia
Introduction:
Lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly prevalent in the electronic devices we use everyday. The cell phones we use to scroll through social media, the laptops we bring to campus to work on our assignments, the headphones we put on to listen to music, and even the vehicles we utilize for transportation. These batteries have become one of the most popular and powerful forms of energy storage on the globe, accounting for approximately 86% of energy storage systems in 2015 [1]. The Liberal Party of Canada has set a goal to eliminate the sale of fuel-emitting cars, and replace them with electric vehicles, by 2035 [2]. Lithium-ion batteries are sure to play an important role in the widespread effort to reduce fuel-emissions across the world as the leading battery type for electric vehicles. These revolutionary changes are of great importance because they continue to modernize our industrial landscapes with hopes of reducing our carbon footprint.
Why Lithium-Ion Batteries?
There are many characteristics of the lithium-ion battery that set it apart from other alternatives. These batteries possess a high energy density which means that a greater amount of energy can be stored per unit volume, thereby strengthening charging capabilities [3]. This characteristic can be attributed to lithium’s high electrochemical potential which is a measure of the difference in energy between the outermost electrons in its two valence configurations [4]. When lithium’s outer shell is full, it is said to be in its low energy configuration; when lithium is oxidized, resulting in the removal of an electron from its outer shell, the high energy configuration is achieved yielding the lithium ion, Li+ [4].
Figure 1: Lithium and lithium-ion electron configurations [5]
Additionally, lithium is the lightest metal in the periodic table, coming in at 0.53 g/cm3, making it a practical choice for use in electronic devices [6]. Another advantage of lithium-ion batteries is their slow rate of self-discharge. Self-discharge can be identified as a phenomenon that occurs in batteries when the chemical substances within the battery itself react without any connection between the electrodes of the battery [7]. This phenomenon leads to a reduction in the stored charge within the battery thus decreasing its capacity for energy storage [7]. Therefore, lithium-ion batteries have a higher life expectancy due to its resistance to self-discharge. Finally, another key attribute of these batteries is the substantial amount of voltage they produce in each cell. Each lithium-ion cell produces approximately 3.6 volts which is greater than the 1.5 volts produced by nickel cells and other alkaline cell derivatives [3]. Ultimately, this means that fewer cells are required per battery, making lithium-ion batteries much more efficient than its competitors.
Applications and Future Outlook:
As the global effort to fight against carbon emissions continues, lithium-ion batteries are quickly becoming ubiquitous in our daily lives. Following this trend, more novel applications continue to be developed and implemented. Although the battery was initially commercially developed for use in portable electronics such as phones, laptops, and headphones, it is now being applied to electric cars, medical devices, and satellites to name a few examples [8]. Lithium-ion batteries are perfectly fit for short-term storage and micro-grid applications [8]. However, given the constraints associated with battery lifespan and the high costs due to mineral mining and battery manufacturing, their deployment is sure to face many challenges as society pushes to revolutionize the energy industry.
References
[1] “Lithium-Ion Batteries,” Lithium-Ion Batteries - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/lithium-ion-batteries. [Accessed: 18-Jan-2022].
[2] Person and S. Scherer, “Canada to ban sale of new fuel-powered cars and light trucks from 2035,” Reuters, 29-Jun-2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-ban-sale-new-fuel-powered-cars-light-trucks-2035-2021-06-29/. [Accessed: 18-Jan-2022].
[3] E. Notes, “Lithium Ion Battery Advantages & Disadvantages,” Electronics Notes. [Online]. Available: https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/electronic_components/battery-technology/li-ion-lithium-ion-advantages-disadvantages.php. [Accessed: 18-Jan-2022].
[4] “Electrochemical potential,” PVEducation. [Online]. Available: https://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/battery-basics/electrochemical-potential#:~:text=The%20electrochemical%20potential%20is%20a,in%20its%20two%20valence%20states.&text=When%20it%20loses%20its%20electrons,a%20stable%2C%20low%20energy%20configuration. [Accessed: 18-Jan-2022].
[5] “How do we can find a lithium electron configuration (li),” Dynamic Periodic Table of Elements and Chemistry, 06-Feb-2021. [Online]. Available: https://periodictable.me/lithium-electron-configuration/. [Accessed: 18-Jan-2022].
[6] Niklas, “List of the 10 lightest metals on Earth,” Weight of Stuff, 13-Jan-2020. [Online]. Available: https://weightofstuff.com/lightest-metals-on-earth/. [Accessed: 18-Jan-2022].
[7] “What is self-discharge?,” Panasonic Batteries, 18-Jan-2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.panasonic-batteries.com/en/faq/what-self-discharge. [Accessed: 18-Jan-2022].
[8] C. P. Grey and D. S. Hall, “Prospects for lithium-ion batteries and beyond-A 2030 vision,” Nature News, 08-Dec-2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19991-4. [Accessed: 18-Jan-2022].