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The Evolution Of Lithium Batteries
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Published: August 23, 2006
Lithium, a metal responsible for preventing migraines, stabilizing moods and purifying air on spacecrafts, reinvented the way humans power their lives.
The lightest of all metals, lithium has long promised the highest electrochemical potential. Though trials to create a lithium battery began in 1912, safety problems prohibited the first rechargeable lithium battery from entering the commercial market until the early 1970s.
A naturally occurring element, lithium is the lightest known solid substance. It has one of the highest energizing capabilities and can withstand extreme temperatures, making it an integral material for creating stovetops and cook ware. However, as a battery, lithium initially proved unstable.
In 1991, the Sony Corporation solved this dilemma with the introduction of the first ion-based lithium battery. These batteries are low maintenance, causing little damage when disposed. Lithium ion batteries are small, mobile and retain energy better than alkaline batteries.
In the past, lithium batteries could not be quickly charged, taking up to two hours until they were reusable. Technology is constantly advancing, however, and today's models take 45 minutes or less to re-attain the battery's initial level of power. Some models can charge up to 90 percent in 10 minutes, making the economically-friendly battery an almost effortless power source.
In early 2005, Altair Nanotechnology announced a new version of the lithium battery, which can be fully charged in six minutes. This prototype boasts three times the capacity of existing batteries. In March, Toshiba announced a similar prototype providing a faster charging time, greater storage capacity and longer life cycle. These batteries are slated to go into production in late 2006 or early 2007.
One drawback of the lithium battery is its immediate aging. The battery's lifespan is determined by its date of manufacture. When purchasing rechargeable lithium batteries, be sure to check the sell-by date. This will provide a rough estimate for when the battery was created and give an indication to how much longer it might last.
In order to combat this limited shelf-life, rechargeable lithium batteries should be kept cool at all times. Experts recommend storing these batteries in a refrigerator; however, freezing them may prove detrimental to the chemical properties. Also, when lithium batteries are overheated, they tend to rapidly lose power. If the battery is stored in an extremely hot climate, such as the inside of a car on a summer day, it runs the risk of losing power and being rendered useless.
Though lithium batteries have many advantages, they can be dangerous if mistreated. Short circuiting the battery can cause it to ignite or explode. Batteries also should never be left plugged in after they are fully charged. This can cause them to become overheated and potentially rupture.
If the batteries are properly taken care of, lithium batteries can live a long, environmentally-friendly life helping to power the products which have become commonplace in everyday life.
"Lithium." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 23 Aug. 2006. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion]
Buchmann, Isidor. "Is Lithium the Ideal
