About Lithium Batteries
Lithium is an element that is found in a wide variety of batteries, falling into two broad categories: lithium and lithium ion. The public often confuses the two, assuming that the lithium battery that operates their remote control is similar to the lithium ion battery that powers their laptop. That is not the case. The two designs have clear distinctions in their electrochemistries and properties and, therefore, are used for different applications.
General Battery Design
Batteries are electrochemical devices, using the reactions between different substances to create an electric current. All batteries are made of three components: a cathode (positive), an anode (negative) and an electrolyte medium. However, it should be noted that these parts can take a wide variety of forms. The cathode might be a liquid or solid in two different batteries, for example. That will change the specific design of the battery but not its general function. The cathode and anode react through the bridge of the electrolyte medium to create a current but never come into actual contact because that would cause a short circuit. When a battery is attached to device, it becomes part of a larger circuit with its current flowing out into the device and then returning, albeit lacking part of its charge.
Lithium Batteries
Lithium batteries all use a lithium compound or lithium metal as an anode. The most common lithium battery on the market uses lithium and a cathode of manganese dioxide, along with an electrolyte of propylene carbonate and dimethoxyethane. Batteries using this electrochemistry make up roughly 80 percent of the disposable, consumer lithium battery market.
Applicatons
Lithium-manganese dioxide batteries are frequently found in a variety of consumer electronics that are meant to last, like clocks, remote car locks, watches, cameras, some remote controls and thermometers. Other lithium battery designs, such as lithium-iodide batteries, appear in other items that require a long life, such as pacemakers.
Pros and Cons
Consumer disposable lithium batteries are more expensive than their alkaline counterparts, but they have the singular advantage of producing a current between 1.5 and 3.7 volts. Voltage is akin to the water pressure in a pipe, which means that these batteries can deliver electricity more quickly. Their electrochemistry is also more robust, lasting much longer than alkalines.
Lithium Ion Batteries
Lithium ion batteries may use lithium not only in the anode but also the cathode. For example, a common design for electronics such as cell phones and laptops uses lithium cobalt oxide as the cathode and graphite for the anode. However, they derive their name from the current being carried through lithium ions. In terms of their chemistry, they are a different family of devices and have substantially different properties.
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