Top 10 Lithium Battery Brand & Manufacturers

What is Lithium Battery

A lithium battery is a type of rechargeable battery that uses lithium compounds as the electrode material. It mainly includes lithium-ion batteries and lithium-metal batteries. Lithium-ion batteries have a lithium-ion intercalation compound as the cathode and a carbon material as the anode, and the lithium ions move between the cathode and anode during the charge and discharge process. Lithium-metal batteries use lithium metal as the anode and a lithium-ion intercalation compound as the cathode.

History of Lithium Battery

In the 1970s, the research on lithium batteries began. In 1970, Exxon's M. S. Whittingham developed the first lithium-ion battery using titanium disulfide as the cathode and lithium metal as the anode. However, due to the safety problems of lithium metal anodes, the development of lithium-ion batteries entered a new stage in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1989, Sony commercialized the first lithium-ion battery using a lithium cobalt oxide cathode and a graphite anode, which opened the prelude to the wide application of lithium-ion batteries. Since then, the technology of lithium-ion batteries has continued to develop and improve, and new cathode and anode materials have emerged continuously, improving the performance and safety of lithium-ion batteries.

Purpose of Lithium Battery

• Power supply for portable electronic devices: It is the most widely used power source for portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and digital cameras. Its high energy density allows these devices to have a longer standby time and running time while maintaining a small size and light weight.


• Energy storage for electric vehicles: It is the core component of the power battery system of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. The development of lithium-ion batteries has promoted the popularization and application of electric vehicles, reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and improving the energy efficiency and environmental protection of vehicles.


• Backup power supply: It is also used as a backup power source for some important equipment and facilities, such as data centers, hospitals, and communication base stations. In case of power outages, lithium-ion batteries can provide emergency power supply to ensure the continuous operation of the equipment.


• Power supply for renewable energy systems: In photovoltaic and wind power generation systems, lithium-ion batteries can be used to store the surplus electricity generated during the day or when the wind is strong for use at night or when the power generation is insufficient, improving the stability and reliability of the power supply.


• Power tools: Many cordless power tools use lithium-ion batteries as the power source, providing higher power and longer running time than traditional nickel-cadmium batteries, and improving the work efficiency of power tools.

Principle of Lithium Battery

During the charging process of a lithium-ion battery, the lithium ions in the cathode material are deintercalated and move to the anode through the electrolyte under the action of an external electric field and are inserted into the anode material. At the same time, electrons are transferred from the cathode to the anode through the external circuit. During the discharging process, the reverse reaction occurs. The lithium ions in the anode material are deintercalated and move to the cathode through the electrolyte, and electrons are transferred from the anode to the cathode through the external circuit, generating an electric current to power the external device.

Features of Lithium Battery

1. High energy density: Lithium-ion batteries have a much higher energy density than traditional lead-acid batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries, which means that they can store more energy in a smaller volume and weight, making portable electronic devices and electric vehicles more compact and lightweight.
2. High voltage: The nominal voltage of a lithium-ion battery is generally about 3.6V or 3.7V, which is much higher than that of traditional batteries such as nickel-cadmium batteries (1.2V) and alkaline batteries (1.5V). This allows for a simpler circuit design and reduces the number of cells required in series for some devices.
3. Low self-discharge rate: The self-discharge rate of lithium-ion batteries is relatively low, usually less than 5% per month. This means that the battery can maintain its charge for a long time when not in use, reducing the frequency of recharging.
4. Long cycle life: Under normal use conditions, lithium-ion batteries can generally be cycled hundreds of times or more. With the continuous improvement of technology, some high-quality lithium-ion batteries can even reach thousands of cycles, greatly reducing the cost of battery replacement.[!--empirenews.page--]
5. No memory effect: Unlike nickel-cadmium batteries, lithium-ion batteries do not have a memory effect. That is, they do not need to be fully discharged before charging and can be charged at any time without affecting the battery's capacity and performance.
6. Some safety risks: Although the safety of lithium-ion batteries has been continuously improved, there are still some potential safety risks, such as overcharging, overheating, short-circuiting, and mechanical damage, which may cause the battery to catch fire or explode. Therefore, strict safety management and protection measures are required during the use and storage of lithium-ion batteries.

Types of Lithium Battery

• Lithium-ion Battery: The most common type of lithium battery, which uses a lithium-ion intercalation compound as the cathode and a carbon material as the anode. It has a wide range of applications in portable electronic devices, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems.


• Lithium Polymer Battery: A type of lithium-ion battery that uses a polymer electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte. It has the advantages of a thinner and lighter structure, higher energy density, and better safety performance, and is widely used in mobile phones, tablets, and other portable electronic devices.


• Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery: A type of lithium-ion battery that uses lithium iron phosphate as the cathode material. It has the advantages of high safety, long cycle life, and good high-temperature performance, and is widely used in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and other fields.


• Lithium Titanate Battery: A type of lithium-ion battery that uses lithium titanate as the anode material. It has the advantages of fast charging speed, long cycle life, and good low-temperature performance, and is mainly used in some special applications such as electric buses and hybrid vehicles.


• Lithium-Metal Battery: Uses lithium metal as the anode and a lithium-ion intercalation compound as the cathode. It has the potential for extremely high energy density but also has some technical challenges and safety risks, and is still in the research and development stage.

Precautions for using Lithium Battery

• Charging and discharging: Use the original charger or a charger that meets the specifications of the battery to charge the battery. Avoid overcharging and over discharging. Overcharging may cause the battery to overheat, swell, and even explode. Over discharging may cause irreversible damage to the battery and reduce its capacity and life.


• Storage: Store the battery in a cool, dry, and ventilated place. Avoid high temperatures, humidity, and direct sunlight. If the battery is not used for a long time, it is recommended to charge it to about 50% and then store it. Regularly check the battery's charge status and recharge it if necessary.


• Use environment: Avoid using the battery in extremely cold or extremely hot environments. Extreme temperatures may affect the battery's performance and life. In addition, avoid using the battery in a vibrating or shock environment as much as possible to prevent damage to the battery structure.


• Installation and connection: When installing and connecting the battery, ensure that the positive and negative poles are correctly connected and that the connection is firm. Incorrect connection may cause short-circuiting and damage to the battery and equipment.


• Disposal: Dispose of used lithium batteries properly and do not throw them into the environment at will. Lithium batteries contain harmful substances and may cause environmental pollution. It is recommended to recycle used lithium batteries through professional channels.

Things to consider when purchasing Lithium Battery

• Device requirements: Select the appropriate type and capacity of the lithium battery according to the power supply requirements of the electrical device to ensure that the battery can provide sufficient power and voltage for the device.


• Type and performance: Consider the type and performance characteristics of different lithium batteries and choose the battery that best meets your needs. For example, if you need a high-energy-density battery for a portable electronic device, you can choose a lithium polymer battery.


• Brand and quality: Choose well-known brands and reliable manufacturers to ensure the quality and reliability of the lithium battery. Well-known brands usually have better quality control and after-sales service.


• Cost and economy: Consider the cost and economic benefits of the lithium battery. Although some high-performance lithium batteries may have a higher initial cost, they may have a longer life and better performance, which can save costs in the long run.[!--empirenews.page--]


• Environmental protection: Choose environmentally friendly lithium batteries as much as possible and avoid using batteries containing harmful substances. For example, choose lithium iron phosphate batteries or lithium polymer batteries without harmful substances.

Terms of Lithium Battery

Some common terms in lithium battery technology include anode, cathode, electrolyte, separator, capacity, voltage, current, charge-discharge rate, cycle life, self-discharge rate, energy density, power density, cathode material, anode material, lithium-ion intercalation compound, etc. Understanding these terms is helpful for better understanding and using lithium batteries.