Lithium-ion batteries have three main components –anode, cathode and electrolyte, which helps in efficient functioning. It works on a simple procedure where the anode and the cathode are placed in the electrolyte solution, which acts as catalysts and completes the chemical reaction by allowing the transfer of ions from anode to cathode.
Lithium-ion battery is also known as Li-ion battery or LIB. It is a rechargeable battery mostly used in consumer electronics. It was designed and first introduced by M.S. Whittingham in 1970’s. However Sony was the first to release them commercially in the year 1991. In LIB, lithium ions travel from the negative electrode to the positive electrode throughout the discharge and back when charging.
A LIB is made up of three basic functional components namely, anode, cathode and electrolyte. Though there are a number of materials that can be used to make the battery but conventionally, anode was made from carbon, cathode from metallic oxide and electrolyte used was a lithium salt in organic solvent. Nowadays several more materials are used to make LIBs. It is important to choose the material correctly, as it will decide the voltage, battery life, capacity and safety of the battery.
The metal case of the battery holds a long spiral, which comprises of three thin sheets namely the positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator. All the three components are closely pressed together. These sheets are inserted in an organic solvent, which acts as an electrolyte to complete the reaction. When the battery is put to charge, the lithium ions of the positive electrode travels to the negative electrode via electrolyte and attaches itself to the carbon present there. On the other hand, during discharge the lithium ions travel backwards from negative to positive electrode. This way the battery is able to operate for a long duration of time and thus known as a rechargeable battery.
Lithium-ion batteries come in a variety of shapes sizes and efficiency. However, it is believed that a normal lithium ion battery loses is capacity by almost 20 % every year from the time of their manufacture.
