The energy density of Lithium-ion batteries is higher, which means it can store large amounts of power in even small sizes.
These batteries use electrolytes, that is why the batteries are not flexible and come only in 2 shapes that are rectangular and cylindrical. A Lithium-ion batteries can charge 300-500 times only. After these recharge cycles the capacity started to reduce slowly, which resulted in less backup power. Despite all these, this charging habit still depends on the temperature and the quality of the battery.
Lithium-ion batteries have a less self-discharge rate, which means when it is not in use it can hold the charge for a long period of time. It is beneficial for those devices which are being used less, like a power bank which is being mass produced but stays in the shops or at dealers place for a long time.
Let’s now talk about Lithium-polymer batteries, this is a type of lithium-ion battery which is present in solid and gel form instead of being in a liquid form. These batteries have less density as compared to Li-ion batteries, and the recharge cycle is just between 150-300 times only. But because of its gel property it is very easy to mold the shape of these batteries.
It is perfect for making devices or devices with unique shapes and sizes like curved phones or ear pods, but it makes the manufacturing process slow and complex, which makes it expensive. You get to see swelling issues in this battery. Just like the Lithium-ion battery, the LiPolymer battery also loses its capacity from time to time, and you will see more performance drop in this battery as compared to the Li-ion battery.
A Battery Management System (BMS) is used with both the batteries, which protects the batteries from being over charge, over discharge, or any situation like short circuit.
Both the battery types use hazardous material while in production, because after getting damage, or puncture these batteries can create a dangerous situation. That is why they are never being transported in cargo planes, and only being transported through road ways and through ships only.
History
In 1749, Benjamin Franklin, he was the US polymath, who used the term “battery” for a set of capacitors he used for his experiment with electricity. These capacitors consist of glass panels coated with metal on both surfaces. They were charged using a static generator and discharged by touching a metal object to their electrode. After connecting multiple capacitors together in a “battery,” they could deliver a strong discharge. The term battery referred to a group of 2 or more similar objects working together. Later on it came to describe devices like voltaic, where several electrochemical cells were connected together. Nowadays a single electrochemical cell, is known as a dry cell, which is referred to as a battery.
Luigi Galvani was an Italian physician, biologist, physicist, and philosopher known for discovering animal electricity. In 1780, he and his wife, Lucia, observed that the muscle of a dead frogs’ leg moved or twitched when struck by an electrical spark. Galvani believed that the energy causing this originated from the leg itself, giving the term “animal electricity” when a couple of different metals connected in series with the frog’s leg.
However, Alessandro Volta, who is an Italian Physicist and chemist disagreed with his friend and fellow scientist Luigi Galvani about the source of a particular electrical phenomenon. Volta believed that it was caused due to the interaction of two different metals connected to a moist surface. He tested the theory and published his findings in 1791.
In 1800 he invented the first battery, known as voltaic pile. This device consists of pair of copper and zinc discs stacked on top of each other, with layers of cloth or cardboard soaked in brine (electrolyte) in between. Nowadays they are know as lithium-ion batteries.
Also Read:
Why do we use Alternating current but not Direct current in households?