Lithium-Ion Battery
Lithium-ion batteries are taking the world by storm. These cutting edge batteries are in everyday appliances like computers, cars, etc. for their better power density and rechargeability. But how do they work?
According to the US department of energy, the Vehicle Technology office is working on increasing the energy density while maintaining the power density for the least costly price. The energy density is watt-hour per kg. It's the battery's ability to produce energy over time. The power density is the battery’s ability to push out watts. The amount of energy output in a given kg (w/kg).
Battery Basics:
The basics of any battery are as follows. There is “anode, cathode, separator, electrolyte, and two current collectors (positive and negative).” The anode is the positive end of the battery. It is usually missing an electron which is why the cathode is able to send it extra over to the other side. A cathode is a net negative. The electrolyte is able to carry the charge over from either end of the battery to its collectors. The flow of electricity can go either way and determine the battery’s overall net charge. There is a new battery out called a solid-state battery. It does not have a liquid electrolyte in its battery.
Lithium has the highest potential to lose electrons which makes it perfect for batteries that use electrochemical potential.
Tesla Cell:
The tesla cell and lithium-ion batteries work on something called electrochemical potential. Its an element affinity to lose or gain electrons when combined with other metals. You can usually tell the difference based on the periodic table.
Lithium-ion batteries become stable when it is used in a metal — oxide. The batteries work by making an external path for the loose lithium electron to find their way back to the metal-oxide because atoms aim to reach the least amount of charge possible. The loose electrons pass through the electrolyte creating a charge from the attraction of the metal-oxide. An oxide is an element that has been oxidized through oxidation, which means losing one or more electrons, versus a reduction which means to gain an electron.
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