There are different types of battery cells that are available today – such as aluminum, zinc, mercury, and many more. But are they all effective, efficient, and environment-friendly? No, not really. This is where lithium cells come in. Lithium has two types – non-rechargeable cells and rechargeable cells. Non-rechargeable cells are made of plain lithium while rechargeable ones are created out of lithium-ions. This article deals with lithium batteries specs.
Lithium batteries are made of lithium metal or compounds. They are different from other types of batteries because of their long life and high price. Lithium batteries can produce from 1.5 volts upward, which is equivalent to that of zinc-carbon or alkaline batteries. They are used mostly for portable electronic gadgets, and can work without the use of electricity. In Japan, 28% of battery sales are accounted to lithium batteries.
The most popular lithium cell type uses manganese dioxide as cathode and metallic lithium as anode. On the other hand, lithium-thionyl chloride batteries are
commonly used for commercial and industrial firms. They are fixed on devices and are not meant to be replaced. Lithium-thionyl chloride cells are appropriate for functions that need a low but reliable source of power.
Some lithium batteries come in small sizes and are used for portable apparatuses such as watches, digital cameras, thermometers, camcorders, calculators, laptops, and remote car locks. The introduction of lithium batteries has made the lives of many people easier and more convenient in terms of the applications for which they can be used.
In order not to contribute to environmental problems, lithium battery packages always come with proper disposal instructions. The regulations depend on the existing laws of local governments aside from those coming from national regulations. Some communities provide a disposal area for all types of dry cells, including lithium batteries. It is strongly advised that once a lithium battery causes overheating of the gadget, it must be discarded immediately to avoid explosion.
Lithium batteries have become a much welcome innovation in technology. They work on low-maintenance mode, which cannot be had from other types of cells. No memory or cycle schedule is necessary to make them last longer. Moreover, they do not easily self-discharge unlike other battery types that drain very fast. Disposing of lithium batteries is also less complicated because the possibility of leaks is less than that of ordinary cells.