Li-ion batteries

Positive electrode: Lithiated form of a transition metal oxide (lithium cobalt

oxide-LiCoO2 or lithium manganese oxide LiMn2O4)
Negative electrode: Carbon (C),
usually graphite (C6)

dis
c

har
ge

Electrolyte: solid lithium-salt electrolytes

(LiPF6, LiBF4, or LiClO4)
and organic solvents (ether)

http://www.fer.hr/_download/repository/Li-ION.pdf

Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Li-ion batteries
Chemical reaction (discharge)
Positive electrode

Li 1-xCoO2 + xLi+ + xe-

LiCoO2
Through electrolyte

Negative electrode

Overall

xLi+ + xe- + 6C

LiCoO2 + C6

LixC6

Through load

Li 1-xCoO2 + C6Lx

In the above reaction x can be 1 or 0

With discharge the Co is oxidized from Co3+ to Co4+. The reverse process
(reduction) occurs when the battery is being charged.

Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Li-ion batteries
Contrary to lead-acid batteries, Li-ion batteries do not accept well a high initial
charging current.
In addition, cells in a battery stack needs to be equalized to avoid falling
below the minimum cell voltage of about 2.85 V/cell.
Thus, Li-ion batteries need to be charged at least initially with a constantcurrent profile. Hence they need a charger
Typical float voltage is above 4 V
(typically 4.2 V).

Saft Intensium 3 Li-ion battery

Advanced Lithium Ion Battery Charger

V.L. Teofilo, L.V. Merritt and R.P. Hollandsworth
Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Li-ion batteries
Effects of temperature:

http://www.gpbatteries.com/html/pdf/Li-ion_handbook.pdf

Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Li-ion batteries
Controlled charging has 2 purposes:
Limiting the current
Equalizing cells

Increased Performance of Battery Packs by Active Equalization

Jonathan W. Kimball, Brian T. Kuhn and Philip T. Krein

Saft Intensium 3 Li-ion battery

Advanced Lithium Ion Battery Charger

V.L. Teofilo, L.V. Merritt and R.P. Hollandsworth
Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Li-ion batteries
Factors affecting life:
Charging voltage.
Temperature
Age (time since manufacturing)
Degradation process: oxidation

Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Li-ion batteries
Advantages with respect to lead-acid batteries:
Less sensitive to high temperatures (specially with solid electrolytes)
Lighter (compare Li and C with Pb)
They do not have deposits every charge/discharge cycle (thats why the
efficiency is 99%)
Less cells in series are need to achieve some given voltage.
Disadvantages:
Cost

Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Ni-MH batteries
Negative electrode: Metal Hydride such as
AB2 (A=titanium and/or vanadium, B=
zirconium or nickel, modified with chromium,
cobalt, iron, and/or manganese) or AB5
(A=rare earth mixture of lanthanum, cerium,
neodymium, praseodymium, B=nickel,
cobalt, manganese, and/or aluminum)
Positive electrode: nickel oxyhydroxide
(NiO(OH))
Electrolyte: Potassium hydroxide (KOH)

Cobasys batteries

Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Ni-MH batteries
Chemical reaction (discharge)
Positive electrode

NiO(OH) + H2O + e-

Ni(OH) 2 + OHThrough electrolyte

Negative electrode

Overall

MH + OH-

NiO(OH) + MH

Through load

M + H 2O + e -

Ni(OH) 2 + M

The electrolyte is not affected because it does not participate in the reaction.

Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Ni-MH batteries
It is not advisable to charge Ni-MH batteries with a constant-voltage method.
Ni-MH batteries do not accept well a high initial charging current.
Float voltage is about 1.4 V
Minimum voltage is about 1 V.

Cobasys Nigen battery

Saft NHE module battery

10

Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Ni-MH batteries
Effects of temperature:

Saft NHE module battery

http://www.panasonic.com/industrial/battery/oem/images/pdf/
panasonic_nimh_overview.pdf

11

Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Ni-MH batteries
Advantages:
Less sensitive to high temperatures than Li-ion and Lead-acid
Handle abuse (overcharge or over-discharge better than Li-ion bat
Disadvantages:
More cells in series are need to achieve some given voltage.
Cost

12

Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Ni-Cd batteries
Negative electrode: Cadmium (Cd) instead of the MH in Ni-MH batteries
Positive electrode: nickel oxyhydroxide (NiO(OH)) the same than in Ni-MH
batteries
Electrolyte: Potassium hydroxide
(KOH) solution

Saft batteries

13

Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Ni-Cd batteries
Chemical reaction (discharge)
Positive electrode 2NiO(OH) + 2H2O + 2e-

2Ni(OH)2 + 2OHThrough electrolyte

Negative electrode

Overall

Cd + 2OH

2NiO(OH) + Cd + 2H2O

Through load

Cd(OH) 2 + 2e-

2Ni(OH)2 + Cd(OH)2

The electrolyte is not affected because it does not participate in the reaction.

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Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Ni-Cd batteries
It is not advisable to charge Ni-Cd batteries with a constant-voltage method.
Ni-Cd batteries do not accept well a high initial charging current, but they can
withstand it sporadically.
Float voltage is about 1.4 V
Minimum voltage is about 1 V.

Saft Ultima plus

15

http://www.saftbatteries.com/doc/Documents/telecom/Cube788/tel_
tm_en_0704.26962445-6b1b-44fb-aea7-42834c32be40.pdf
Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Ni-Cd batteries
Effects of temperature:

http://www.saftbatteries.com/doc/Documents/telecom/Cube788/tel_
tm_en_0704.26962445-6b1b-44fb-aea7-42834c32be40.pdf

16

Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Ni-Cd batteries
Due to their better performance at high temperatures, Ni-Cd batteries are replacing
Lead-acid batteries in outdoor stationary applications. But, they do not resist hurricanes
very well, yet(AT&Ts DLC at Sabine Pass CO, Saft NCX batteries)

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Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Ni-Cd batteries
Advantages:
Less sensitive to high temperatures than all the other batteries
Handle some abuse (overcharge or over-discharge better than Li-ion
bat)
Disadvantages:
More cells in series are need to achieve some given voltage.
Cost

18

Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Ni-Cd batteries
Comparison with Ni-MH batteries (not much of a difference)

Portable NiCd- and Ni-MH-Batteries for Teiecom Applications

J. Heydecke and H.A. Kiehne

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Alexis Kwasinski, 2012

Battery technologies

Cobasys: Inside the Nickel Metal Hydride Battery

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Alexis Kwasinski, 2012