A whole new breed of sufficiently flexible, high-energy lithium batteries is beginning to change the shape of next-generation products. Light and portable gadgets, ranging from notebook computers to handheld medical equipment to tools, are benefiting from constant developments in energy density, as well as from the popularity of thin-format laminate cells. For design and style engineers, the final thought is that compact equipment along with extended charge times are generally more achievable than before.
Without a doubt, makers of consumer items are doing just that. Apple Inc. comes with notably used laminate-style lithium polymer battery packs to great advantage in the Ipod and also iPad, as well as in the paper-thin MacBook Air.
General Motors and also Nissan are actually utilizing similar laminate-style systems in the Volt and Leaf, while Tesla Motors is applying 6,800 cylindrical lithium-ion batteries in its highly marketed Roadster. At the same time, lithium is finding a significant niche around the medical industry, where cart-based devices are making way to hand held displays.
One of the keys to the recent popularity of lithium-ion cells is the ongoing improvement in capacity. Not long ago, 2.2Amp-hour cobalt-based lithium power packs were all the trend, however in the last 5yrs, they were replaced instead by lithium cells that utilized nickel-manganese, and then nickel-aluminum. Throughout this march of success, battery pack capabilities increased to 2.6A-hr. and then 2.9A-hr.
In June, Panasonic presented the NCR18650A, a good lithium-ion cell who once again extends battery power capacity, this time around to 3.1A-hr. Later on this current year, some battery companies would like to move to 3.4A-hr. And also 4.0A-hr. battery packs in the recognized 18650 form element (cylindrical power packs slightly larger than an AA) might be released as soon as 2013, they claim.
Cylindrical cells push the envelope
Technical engineers believe that the higher-energy breed of batteries is beginning brand-new applications in countless industries, but particularly in medical. There, customers are incorporating them on portable ultrasound, portable o2 concentrators, and also portable work stations for monitoring clients. At the same time, a classical number of customers still is using lithium-ion as a substitute for nickel-metal hydride power packs in notebook pc's, cell phones, digicams, and even power tools.
Laminate batteries make a comeback
Even at the lithium-ion grouping, on the other hand, a sub-category is gaining momentum. Lithium polymer, a branch of lithium-ion that employs a flat laminate composition, is reaching a growing variety of programs. "There's definitely a trend toward lithium polymer in portable devices because there's a race to make them all thinner," TI's Barsukov says. "All of the newest, coolest gadgets out there, starting with Apple and Android devices, are using polymer because of the thin cells and the high energy density."
Indeed, Apple's MacBook air measures 0.67 " in thickness, thanks in part to its utilization of lithium polymer battery packs. Lithium polymer offers some other benefits. One of them:
Range of flexibility, that permits technical engineers to easily alter some sort of layout to match a recommended space
Aspect ratio, turning it into better to produce a substantial, flat cell
Higher C-rate, that makes it possible to provide much more current in less time
Lithium polymer presents all those choices as it utilizes a laminate structure with an electrolyte that can vary from water to gel to solid. Contrary to conventional lithium-ion cells, that happen to be contained in a metal can, lithium polymer cells are in a minimized foil bag, just like a potato chip bag. The multi-layered bag helps to keep h2o from going into battery as well as avoids electrolytes from leaking out, but it provides an additional: It's far less heavy and even thinner compared to the cylindrical metal housing of the 18650. That, in turn, makes it possible to generate a battery pack that is definitely very similar in form to a loose-leaf notebook.
What's more, lithium polymer cells offer increased rates of discharge. The C-rate -- a parameter that explains the time it takes to completely discharge a battery -- is a lot higher in polymer batteries compared to cylindrical or even prismatic lithium-ion batteries. While traditional lithium-ion power packs top out at C-rates of roughly 2, lithium polymer batteries can have C-rates approaching 15 or more. The cabability to discharge current on quicker rates translates to increased power for the apps.
Without a doubt, makers of consumer items are doing just that. Apple Inc. comes with notably used laminate-style lithium polymer battery packs to great advantage in the Ipod and also iPad, as well as in the paper-thin MacBook Air.
General Motors and also Nissan are actually utilizing similar laminate-style systems in the Volt and Leaf, while Tesla Motors is applying 6,800 cylindrical lithium-ion batteries in its highly marketed Roadster. At the same time, lithium is finding a significant niche around the medical industry, where cart-based devices are making way to hand held displays.
One of the keys to the recent popularity of lithium-ion cells is the ongoing improvement in capacity. Not long ago, 2.2Amp-hour cobalt-based lithium power packs were all the trend, however in the last 5yrs, they were replaced instead by lithium cells that utilized nickel-manganese, and then nickel-aluminum. Throughout this march of success, battery pack capabilities increased to 2.6A-hr. and then 2.9A-hr.
In June, Panasonic presented the NCR18650A, a good lithium-ion cell who once again extends battery power capacity, this time around to 3.1A-hr. Later on this current year, some battery companies would like to move to 3.4A-hr. And also 4.0A-hr. battery packs in the recognized 18650 form element (cylindrical power packs slightly larger than an AA) might be released as soon as 2013, they claim.
Cylindrical cells push the envelope
Technical engineers believe that the higher-energy breed of batteries is beginning brand-new applications in countless industries, but particularly in medical. There, customers are incorporating them on portable ultrasound, portable o2 concentrators, and also portable work stations for monitoring clients. At the same time, a classical number of customers still is using lithium-ion as a substitute for nickel-metal hydride power packs in notebook pc's, cell phones, digicams, and even power tools.
Laminate batteries make a comeback
Even at the lithium-ion grouping, on the other hand, a sub-category is gaining momentum. Lithium polymer, a branch of lithium-ion that employs a flat laminate composition, is reaching a growing variety of programs. "There's definitely a trend toward lithium polymer in portable devices because there's a race to make them all thinner," TI's Barsukov says. "All of the newest, coolest gadgets out there, starting with Apple and Android devices, are using polymer because of the thin cells and the high energy density."
Indeed, Apple's MacBook air measures 0.67 " in thickness, thanks in part to its utilization of lithium polymer battery packs. Lithium polymer offers some other benefits. One of them:
Range of flexibility, that permits technical engineers to easily alter some sort of layout to match a recommended space
Aspect ratio, turning it into better to produce a substantial, flat cell
Higher C-rate, that makes it possible to provide much more current in less time
Lithium polymer presents all those choices as it utilizes a laminate structure with an electrolyte that can vary from water to gel to solid. Contrary to conventional lithium-ion cells, that happen to be contained in a metal can, lithium polymer cells are in a minimized foil bag, just like a potato chip bag. The multi-layered bag helps to keep h2o from going into battery as well as avoids electrolytes from leaking out, but it provides an additional: It's far less heavy and even thinner compared to the cylindrical metal housing of the 18650. That, in turn, makes it possible to generate a battery pack that is definitely very similar in form to a loose-leaf notebook.
What's more, lithium polymer cells offer increased rates of discharge. The C-rate -- a parameter that explains the time it takes to completely discharge a battery -- is a lot higher in polymer batteries compared to cylindrical or even prismatic lithium-ion batteries. While traditional lithium-ion power packs top out at C-rates of roughly 2, lithium polymer batteries can have C-rates approaching 15 or more. The cabability to discharge current on quicker rates translates to increased power for the apps.
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Currently, so many electronics come with rechargeable batteries, but some aren't a li-on battery. which is the sole reason why when they eventually die, you will need to invest in a quality li-on battery