C+-+Lithium-Ion+Batteries

Jonathon Wong Presented: October 15, 2010 **__How Lithium-Ion Batteries Work __** · Made of 3 principle components: anode, cathode and separator · Usually anode is made of a carbon and the cathode is made of a metal oxide · Cell uses an organic solvent containing complexes of lithium (because Li reacts strongly with water to create lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas) · The separator separates the anode from the cathode while providing permeability for the lithium ions to pass back and forth · When charging electrons flow from cathode to anode and while discharging electrons flow from cathode to anode · When charging the Li+ ions flow from cathode to anode and while discharging Li+ ions flow from anode to cathode · Each electrode is made of porous material for the Li+ ions to embed into to (process known as intercalation) · Research is undergoing about carbon nanotubes being cathodes because of their porous structures (holds more Li+ per mass/weight; efficient) · To increase the batteries lifespan, a tin-coated resin stabilizes the electrode to prevent deterioration of the electrode

Works Cited:

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Brain, Marshall. "How Lithium-ion Batteries Work" 14 November <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2006. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/lithium-ion-battery.htm> 11 October 2010.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;">Buchmann, I. “Is the Lithium-Ion the Ideal Battery?” November 2006. BatteryUniversity.com. <http://www.batteryuniversity.com/​partone-5.htm> October 11, 2010.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;">Flatley, J. L. “New Lithium-Ion Battery Could Last 20 Years, Long After You’ve Broken the Devices They Once Powered” 5 February 2010. Engadget. < http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/new-lithium-ion-battery-could-last-20-years-long-after-youve-b/> October 11, 2010.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;">Zhang, S. S. “Battery Separator” 22 July 2008. SciTopics. <http://www.scitopics.com/​battery_separator.html> October 11, 2010