Batteries are what digital product depends on in the consumer electronic arena. We sure want our batteries to last as long as possible, and that we don’t have to charge them as frequently as we do now, but how can we make it happen? Before that day comes, let’s see what battery is and if we can fasten its steps.
What is battery?
Battery is a device for energy storage and conversion that converts chemical energy, light energy, heat energy, nuclear energy, etc. directly into electrical energy. The device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy is called a chemical power source, which is battery. It comes with a positive electrode and a negative electrode.
Types of batteries
Batteries can be divided into primary batteries, secondary batteries, reserve batteries and fuel cells. Here are what you need to know about each one of them.
Primary battery refers to the battery that can’t be reused by a simple charging method when the battery is discharged. Zinc-manganese battery, lithium-manganese battery, zinc-air battery and primary zinc-silver battery are some of the primary batteries that we use in our daily life.
As one of the most often updated batteries, zinc-manganese dry battery is now generally replaced by alkaline zinc-manganese batteries, which is of better performance.
Secondary battery refers to the battery that can be charged to restore the active material after the battery is discharged. In the other words, it can be reused. Lead-acid batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries and lithium-ion batteries are just some of the secondary batteries that we usually see and use.
As the most widely used battery, lithium-ion battery sure deserves our attention. Let’s dig a bit deeper into it, and see what it has to offer.
- By electrolyte status, Lithium-ion secondary batteries can be classified as liquid lithium-ion batteries (LIB) and solid-state lithium-ion batteries (PLIB, also known as polymer lithium-ion batteries or plastic lithium-ion batteries);
- By shape, it’s divided into square lithium-ion batteries and cylindrical lithium-ion batteries;
- By outer casing material, it’s divided into steel shell, aluminum shell, flexible packaging and more.
Lithium-ion battery and digital equipment
Nickel-cadmium batteries are not that commonly seen on the market nowadays due to its possible harm to the environment. Plus the fact that insufficient charge or discharge would harm the battery health, which would shorten the life cycle of the battery.v
An alternative to nickel-cadmium batteries is nickel-hydrogen battery, which is also known as environmentally friendly battery. Another alternative would be lithium-ion battery, also widely used by us. Lithium-ion batteries’ popularity mainly come from their low price, so it is not realistic to completely replace them all at once.
However, manufacturers such as Toyota have begunto develop solid-state lithium-ion batteries, which are safer and can be charged and discharged faster than liquid lithium batteries.
The reserve battery, also called activated battery,means that the positive and negative electrodes of the battery are not in direct contact with the electrolyte when in use. Either the electrolyte is injected before use or other methods are used to directly contact the electrolyte with the positive and negative electrodes. That said, the battery is always safe to use.
Exhibit batteries for reserve battery are magnesium-silver chloride batteries and magnesium-copper chloride batteries. Magnesium-chlorinated copper batteries can be used in naval sonar buoys, depth gauges, marine rescue signal lights, wreck GPS power supplies, and underwater power supplies.
A fuel cell (continuous battery) means that the active substance participating in the reaction is continuously input into the battery from the outside of the battery, and the battery continuously operates to provide electric energy. For example, hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells and phosphate fuel cells belong to fuel cell. Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells can be used in distributed power plants, electric vehicles, and mobile power sources.
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