Lithium ion batteries🔋

Heavy or light?

Light - lithium is the lightest metal

Charging period?

Can be charged more rapidly than lead acid batteries

Environmentally friendly?

More environmentally friendly since they don't contain any substance with a high environmental load

Positive current collector

Receives electrons from the external circuit during the discharging of the battery from the negative current collector

Cathode (positive electrode)

Stores Lithium and releases lithium ions when the battery is charging

Separator

Allows lithium ions to flow freely from the anode to the cathode vice versa. Prohibits the flow of electrons inside the battery structure

Anode (negative electrode)

Stores Lithium and releases lithium ions when the battery is discharging

Electrolyte

A liquid or gel that acts as a transporter of lithium ions

Negative current collector

Receives electrons from the external circuit during the charging of the battery from the positive current collector

What happens in the internal circuit?

Lithium ions move between the cathode and anode

What happens in the external circuit?

Electrons move in the opposite direction to the lithium ions

What do the opposing flows do?

Migration of the flows causes the battery to power the device, since it creates the electrical current

What happens when the battery discharges?

The anode releases lithium ions to the cathode, generating a flow of electrons which help power a device

What happens when the battery charges?

Lithium ions are released by the cathode and received by the anode

Uses of the lithium ion battery

Electric vehicles, electrical energy storage systems, wireless headphones, handheld power tools