Lithium batteries, as the name suggests,work on a soft alkaline metal called "lithium." This natural material is the lightest of all known metals. It is lighter than water, and therefore has buoyancy, not only in aqueous solutions, but even in kerosene. Accordingly, lithium has the widest electrochemical potential, which makes it possible to safely consider it the most active metal.
Lithium batteries, based on it, have low mass-overall performance, as well as a relatively high value of energy density.
The main advantages of each lithium battery are:
Low self-charging current. This allows to increase the service life in the inactive state by several times in comparison with the alkaline analogues.
There is no need for periodic feeding from an external source of energy.
There is practically no loss of capacity at negative ambient temperatures, which makes lithium batteries irreplaceable in the conditions of the Far North.
Long service life.
Low weight.
Manufacturers produce lithium batterieswith different chemical composition, which allows to obtain products oriented to different operating voltages, as well as having different energy intensity.
The most common are lithium batteries of the following types:
1. Li-MnO2 with a rated voltage of 3 V.The most common type. It has high capacity and a large temperature range of use. Able to give a current of considerable magnitude.
2. Li-FeS2 or lithium iron disulfide batteries.Available for 1.5 V and are an excellent alternative to salt and alkaline batteries. The small value of the nominal voltage allows them to be used directly in the devices.
The advantages of this type of battery are as follows:
A) The service life is about 4 times longer compared to alkaline batteries.
B) Mass reduced by 30%.
C) The return of a large current.
D) The shelf life exceeds 10 years.
The disadvantage is only one: the high cost.
3. Li-Ion or lithium-ion batteries.Available in the range of rated voltages from 3.5 to 4 V. In power supplies of this type, lithium metal is replaced with its ions, which makes their operation safer. This type of battery has the ability to recharge, so they are often called batteries. They are not subject to the so-called “memory effect” and have high energy indices. In the inactive mode, self-discharge occurs, which is about 5 percent per month. Sensitive to high temperatures.
Since lithium is an active metal,The production of lithium batteries is often hampered by special safety requirements. This metal actively interacts with water, resulting in the release of hydrogen and alkali. In addition, it should not be allowed to mix with oxygen, as this may cause an explosion.
