Advantages and disadvantages of Lithium Ion Battery

This page covers advantages and disadvantages of Lithium Ion Battery. It mentions Lithium Ion Battery advantages or benefits and Lithium Ion Battery disadvantages or drawbacks.

What is Lithium Ion Battery?

Introduction:
It is one type of rechargeable battery. In this type, lithium ions move from Anode (A) to Cathode (C) during discharge period and from Cathode to Anode during charging period.

It is most commonly used battery in smartphones and laptops due to high energy density and light weight. It is similar to lead acid battery with the use of separator.

The Anode of lithium-ion battery is made from carbon material. The batteries have different classes with varying cathode terminals made from other lithium molecules.
Cathode: LiCoO₂
Anode: Carbon or Graphite
Electrolyte: Lithium Salt with Organic Solvent
Seperator: permeable membrane

The figure-1 depicts electron flow during charging and discharging periods.

Benefits or advantages of Lithium Ion Battery

Following are the benefits or advantages of Lithium Ion Battery:
➨As mentioned it has high energy density which is two times compare to Ni-Cd.
➨The Lithium-Ion battery is rechargeable.
➨There is no memory effect. Hence it is not needed to discharge them completely before recharging.
➨The battery can handle many charge/discharge cycles.
➨The battery can hold the charge and it can lose only 5% of its charge every month.

Drawbacks or disadvantages of Lithium Ion Battery

Following are the disadvantages of Lithium Ion Battery:
➨It lasts only two to three years after manufacturer.
➨It is sensitive to high temperatures.
➨If the battery is completely discharged, it can no longer be recharged again.
➨It is relatively expensive.
➨If the "separator" gets damaged, it can burst into flames.