Battery types

A battery is not an ideal finite power supply. The energy stored in a fully charged battery cannot be supplied to the digital circuitry to its full extent because the amount of energy a battery can provide depends on the current drawn from the battery itself. In other words, the higher the discharge current, the…

There are many alternatives to Li-ion batteries, including fuel cells, various types of supercapacitors, redox flow batteries, novel Li-based chemistries such as lithium-sulfur (LiS), and more. This FAQ focuses on alternative non-lithium rechargeable battery chemistries, including calcium-ion (Ca-ion), magnesium-ion (Mg-ion), sodium-ion (Na-ion), zinc-ion (Zn-ion), iron-air (Fe-air), and sodium-sulfur (NaS) that can be more readily integrated…

Littelfuse, Inc. announced the new ITV4030, a series of 22 amp, three-terminal, surface-mountable Li-ion battery protectors. These 4.0 x 3.0 mm devices protect battery packs against overcurrent and overcharging (overvoltage) conditions. The innovative design uses embedded fuse and heater elements that provide fast response and reliable performance to interrupt the charging or discharging circuit before the […]

Littelfuse, Inc. announced the new ITV4030, a series of 22 amp, three-terminal, surface-mountable Li-ion battery protectors. These 4.0 x 3.0 mm devices protect battery packs against overcurrent and overcharging (overvoltage) conditions. The innovative design uses embedded fuse and heater elements that provide fast response and reliable performance to interrupt the charging or discharging circuit before the […]

The electrolyte is often an underappreciated component in Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. They simply provide an electrical path between the anode and cathode that supports current (actually, ion) flow. But electrolytes are a key to battery performance, and advances in electrolyte chemistries are expected to be an important development leading to high-performance, safe, and low-cost Li-ions…

Separators in Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries literally separate the anode and cathode to prevent a short circuit. Modern separator technology also contributes to a cell’s thermal stability and safety. Separators impact several battery performance parameters, including cycle life, energy and power density, and safety. The separator increases internal cell resistance, and the separator takes up valuable…

There are numerous cathode materials used in Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries optimized for various aspects of performance, but the majority of all Li-ions still use graphite anodes. That may be set to change. The use of graphite with a theoretical gravimetric capacity of about 370mAh/g is being challenged by new materials under development that offer gravimetric…

Among the various components involved in a lithium-ion cell, cathodes (the positive or oxidizing electrodes) currently limit the energy density and dominate the battery cost. Today’s common cobalt (Co) and manganese (Mn) based cathodes were developed to overcome safety concerns with Li-metal anodes. This FAQ begins with a brief look at the longer-term trajectory of…

Battery cells, modules, and systems support many electronic, transportation, and energy applications. This FAQ briefly reviews the operation of rechargeable batteries and looks at the energy storage value chain; it then presents common battery cell formats and how battery cells are assembled into modules and systems, reviews the development of multi-function structural battery packs, and…

Lithium-ion batteries have significantly increased the capability of electric vehicles, with high energy storage density and efficiency. They can currently achieve specific energy and power densities of 260 Wh/kg and 340 W/kg, respectively, with a life of over 1,000 cycles. In recent years, most developments in lithium-ion batteries have focused on cathode chemistry, with battery…