Lithium-ion technology is the hottest buzzword in batteries. They are the main source of power for many everyday items, including laptops, mobile phones, power tools, and vehicles. The importance of portable power is increasing steadily as technology advances with a focus on speed, big data, and mobility.

Rechargeable lithium-ion (Lion) batteries are becoming more popular at Tennant as an option for powering select equipment. They have five main advantages: safety, long-term maintenance, speed of charging, safety, and easy charging. Before we get into the details, let's first define lithium-ion battery and the science behind it.

What is the difference between lithium-ion and lithium batteries?

Lithium-ion batteries can be recharged, whereas traditional wet batteries cannot. Li-ion batteries can be charged hundreds of times, and they are also more stable. They have a higher energy density and voltage capacity than other rechargeable batteries. Also, they are more stable. Because a single battery has a longer charge retention than the other types, it is more efficient.

Li-ion (Lii-ion) batteries are an advanced type of battery technology that utilizes lithium ions in its electrochemistry. The anode's lithium atoms are ionized and removed from their electrons during a discharge cycle. The lithium ions travel from the anode to the cathode where they recombine their electrons and are electrically neutralized. Because the lithium ions are so small, they can pass through a micropermeable separator. Because lithium is small (third only to hydrogen, helium), lithium-ion batteries can have a high voltage and charge storage per unit of mass and volume.

There are many different types of electrodes for Li-ion batteries. Most commonly, a combination of graphite and lithium cobalt dioxide (cathode), is used in portable electronic devices like cellphones and laptops. The other cathode materials are lithium manganese dioxide (used in hybrid electric cars and electric automobiles), and lithium ironphosphate. Li-ion batteries usually use ether (a group of organic compounds) for an electrolyte.

What are the advantages of Li-ion battery?

Compared to the other high-quality rechargeable battery technologies (nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal-hydride), Li-ion batteries have a number of advantages. They offer one of the highest energy density of any current battery technology (100-265 Wh/kg, 250-670 Wh/L). Additionally, Li-ion batteries can produce 3.6 Volts which is 3 times more than other technologies like Ni-Cd and Ni-MH. They can also deliver high current for high-power applications. Li-ion battery cells are also relatively low-maintenance and don't require regular cycling to prolong their life. The memory effect is a negative process that can lead to batteries having a lower capacity due to repeated partial discharge/charge cycles. This is a benefit over Ni-Cd or Ni-MH which have this effect. Low self-discharge rates of 1.5-2 % per month are also a benefit to Li-ion batteries. They are safer than Ni-Cd because they don't contain toxic cadmium.

These advantages have made Li-ion batteries the market leader for portable electronic devices such as smartphones and laptops. Some aerospace applications also use Li-ion batteries to power electric systems. This is especially true for the new, more eco-friendly Boeing 787. Weight is a major cost factor. The potential uses of Li-ion technology in battery-powered cars is a major source of clean energy.