Lithium Batteries Material Guide: Why Do They Matter?
Batteries are a modern invention that has shaped how we use electronics. The batteries serve a variety of purposes. Even in adverse conditions, there are different kinds of batteries that can deliver optimum performance.
But have you ever wondered how that actually takes place? We need to look closer if you want to understand the construction of a battery. And this means diving down into the materials that are being used to make the batteries.
That is exactly what we plan to tackle today. We’re going to go over the different materials that are used to manufacture batteries.
This will also give us a chance to perform an evaluation of the performance of different lithium batteries material. Let’s start.
Construction of a Lithium Battery
Before we go all in-depth about the different lithium batteries material, we want to briefly look at how a lithium battery is made.
There are three main parts of a lithium battery. These are the electrodes (cathode & anode), the separator between the electrodes, and an electrolyte solution to create the chemical reaction.
If you know a thing or two about batteries, you should know they have a charging and discharging phase. It’s all possible thanks to these three components being in the battery.
Lithium Batteries Material: Why Is It Needed?
Why are different materials used to make lithium batteries? Each one serves a different purpose. Mostly it’s to make sure the chemical reaction takes place within the batteries.
There are other reasons as well. Things like operating in extreme temperatures, life span, durability, charging rate, and overall efficiency.
By now, you must be wondering about the materials that we’re planning to talk about today. Which of these batteries can you find at Thinpack? Let’s find out.
Different Lithium Batteries Material Used at Thinpack
Depending on the lithium battery that you’re dealing with, you will find different materials being used in the construction. So why not have a look at the different lithium batteries available at Thinkpack, before we proceed to talk about the materials used?
You can find the following lithium batteries here at Thinpack:
- Lifepo4 batteries
- Lithium Titanate batteries
- Lithium-ion batteries (NMC batteries)
There are different materials used just in the construction of these batteries. Let’s start.
Lifepo4 Batteries
Lifepo4 batteries are also referred to as Lithium Ferro Phosphate batteries. Aside from lithium, the other materials used here are iron and phosphorous.
The reason for using Fe and P in the lithium batteries material made it a much better product than lead-acid batteries. There are several reasons behind using these two materials. Just take a look at the reasons and you’ll understand why.
Widely Available
Iron and phosphorus can be found in abundance in the earth’s crust. Compared to NMC batteries, these materials are easily obtainable. This makes the battery much more sustainable. It’s also environmentally friendly.
A Safer Alternative
Lithium batteries made with iron and phosphorous are a much safer alternative to other batteries. It’s thermally and chemically stable.
Cost Effective
Production for Lifepo4 batteries costs much less. And the performance that you get for the cost is much better than a traditional lead-acid battery.
Increased Cycle Life
After the batteries are made, they are good for battery cycles of 2700 to 10000 cycles. This obviously depends on the condition. But you can expect an average battery cycle for typical Lifepo4 batteries.
A Non-Toxic Option
The iron and phosphate used to make Lifepo4 batteries are considerably less toxic. For any lithium batteries material, it’s important to make sure that the elements used are not toxic. When it comes to recycling, it’s always appreciated to not have toxic elements used to construct the battery.
Lithium Titanate Battery
The main difference between a lithium titanate battery and any other lithium batteries material is in the charging. Lithium titanate batteries are best used when you need a faster charge more than anything else.
Another thing to note about this battery is that it comes with a very low energy density. That means the applications for this battery are very limited.
Electrical devices that benefit from a low energy density are perfect for using lithium titanate batteries. If it needs quick charging on top of that, even better. Pen devices like the ones that come with Samsung note devices can benefit from using lithium titanate batteries.
What about the materials used for this? A mixture of lithium and titanate is used in the anode of the battery. What are the advantages of using lithium titanate? Let’s find out.
Low-Temperature Operation
Lithium titanate batteries can work in extremely low temperatures. The fast charging means that the battery life is much better. Regular batteries if charged in the cold, take a hit in their overall lifespan.
But since lithium titanate batteries can operate in as low as -40 degrees celsius, that never becomes an issue.
Long Lifespan
Lithium titanate batteries can go for as long as 20000 cycles. That’s impressive to say the least. If you want an idea about the lifespan in years, lithium titanate batteries can go for as long as 25 years!
Lighter in Weight
When you compare a lithium titanate battery to a traditional lead acid battery, the weight is 1/4th. This makes it easier to work with the battery. It also results in a reduced load when it’s finally time for the battery to be replaced.
Ultra Fast Charging
As we mentioned before, the main benefit of a lithium titanate battery is that it charges extremely fast. Using titanate crystals as the lithium batteries material can give you a full charge in 10 minutes.
Lithium Ion Batteries (NMC Batteries)
This variant of lithium batteries is the one that put it on the map. The lithium batteries material used to construct these batteries are made with manganese, cobalt, and graphite. These materials are sourced paying attention to the quality.
Since some of these elements are not as widely available, lithium-ion batteries are recycled to reuse those elements in new batteries.
Since the batteries come in different shapes, that makes them applicable for a wide range of functions. What benefits do these lithium batteries materials provide? That’s what we want to find out.
High Energy Density
The high levels of energy density make the battery incredibly versatile. It also guarantees a better battery health overall. Take into account the different sizes and use cases, it’s no wonder these are the most widely used lithium batteries.
Higher Voltage Output with Low Maintenance
Lithium-ion batteries can provide a maximum of 3.2V power for electrical devices. Lithium-ion batteries also require low maintenance. You just need to switch out for a new one when it runs out of juice making it hassle-free.
Fast Charging
Although the charging time is not as fast as a lithium titanate battery, the lithium batteries material used here allows for the battery to charge fast. It’s perfect for devices that you use on a daily basis.
Why Are Different Materials Used to Construct Lithium Batteries?
You migh be wondering, what reason could there possibly be more having so many different materials when it comes to lithium batteries? If you’ve been reading this guide up until now, you should see that all the batteries that you can find at Thinpack are not used for the same purposes.
Different lithium batteries are good at different things. This can depend on the construction materials for the battery. It can even depend upon the shape and size.
The main purpose of using different materials to make lithium batteries is to support the different use cases. Since all conditions are not identical, it makes sense to use different materials to make these batteries.
Which Lithium Batteries Material is the Best?
This is a question that is subjective. As we just said, all operating conditions for lithium batteries are not going to be the same.
Some batteries are going to be used in warmer climates while others might be exposed to extremely low temperatures. There is no single battery that can serve the purpose of working well in two completely different scenarios.
This is why the best lithium battery is going to depend on where and how you plan to use it.
Several factors will come into play, such as operating temperature, capacity, energy density, and overall battery capacity among many others. You should only decide which is the best lithium battery, after having considered every little detail.
Wrapping Up
In this guide, we tried to cover the different kinds of batteries that use different lithium batteries material. As you got to see, depending on the condition, features, and use case of the battery, different materials are used.
If you do decide to go with lithium batteries, you can definitely get a better performance out of them. As long as we’re talking about the alternatives currently available on the market.
If you need lithium batteries for any sort of application, do not hesitate to contact Thinpack. Our team of experts would be more than happy in assisting you to find the right lithium battery to suit all of your needs.