Why Do We Use Lithium-Based Batteries? 4 Alternatives
Reading Time: 5 minutesLithium-based batteries are everywhere and in everything, but why do we use these batteries over other options?
Lithium-based batteries have been integral to our lives for decades and are required for various electronic devices. But why have lithium-based batteries become so popular, and are better alternatives out there? What could one day replace lithium-based batteries altogether?
What Are Lithium-Based Batteries?
Lithium-based batteries (lithium-ion batteries) are the most common type of battery today. The idea of lithium-based batteries was first proposed in 1976 by Michael Stanley Whittingham, a British chemist. Lithium-based batteries first became commercially available on a wide scale some years later, in 1991, when they went into mass production.
A lithium-based battery can come in many forms, with the most notable variants including lithium iron phosphate, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium manganese oxide, and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide. These batteries contain small power cells, each consisting of a positive electrode (cathode), a negative electrode (anode), and an electrolyte.
Within the cell, lithium ions move between the positive and negative electrodes, with the electrolyte acting as the movement vector. Lithium ions (Li+) have a positive charge and are therefore attracted to the negative electrode. The two electrodes are also made up of key components. In the case of a typical lithium cobalt oxide battery, the cathode is made of lithium cobalt oxide, while the anode is usually made of a carbon-based compound known as graphite.
The cathode will give away some of its positive lithium ions, which then travel to the anode through the electrolyte, releasing energy that the battery will use for its power output. This quick and simple process is now relied on by billions of people around the world to fuel their devices.
Many brands of lithium-ion batteries are single-use. While they can power a device for weeks, months, or even years, it must be disposed of and replaced once the battery dies. However, rechargeable lithium-based batteries are now very popular, as they can save users money and produce less waste.
But why, exactly, are lithium-based batteries the top choice? What makes them such an attractive option for manufacturers and consumers?
Why Do We Use Lithium-Based Batteries?
We mainly use lithium-based batteries because of their long life compared to other battery types. Manufacturers want to produce and sell batteries that deliver power for a few days while remaining lightweight and compact. Furthermore, according to the Clean Energy Institute, Lithium-ion batteries have a very low self-discharge of around 1-2% per month, meaning they lose a lower percentage of their overall power capacity each time they’re used.
Lithium-ion batteries can produce energy via a simple chemical process, making them a very attractive option for manufacturers. Adding to this, the energy density of lithium-ion batteries makes them the most preferred option. A standard lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 260-270wh/kg (watt-hours per kilogram), while lead-acid batteries can only reach a capacity of 50-100wh/kg (as per Dragonfly Energy). The energy density of lithium-ion batteries is also a key reason why they’re commonly used in electric vehicles.
Because of these factors, lithium-based batteries are popular among the general public, and they’re not expensive to buy. While certain brands or models of batteries can have a higher price, standard lithium-based batteries are generally quite affordable and available in millions of stores worldwide.
But lithium-ion batteries are by no means perfect. In fact, there are some glaring issues associated with this incredibly popular power source.
The Problem with Lithium-Based Batteries
One of the biggest problems associated with lithium-ion batteries is the sheer amount of waste they create. Many people choose to dispose of batteries via regular refuse once they run out of power, which is damaging to the environment.
When lithium-ion batteries are disposed of along with other general, non-recyclable waste, they end up in a landfill. Once they land here, their components can leach and severely damage the surrounding environment. Lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese can all pose serious contamination risks and are all present in various lithium-based battery types.
What’s more, lithium extraction for this battery type also harms our planet. Lithium can be extracted via salt mining or evaporation, with both processes having a nasty effect on the environment. Contamination, increased water salinity, CO2 emissions, and biodiversity loss are all worrying side effects of lithium extraction.
Given that the lithium battery market is expected to grow by 14.6 percent between 2020 and 2026 (as reported by Statista), it’s likely that the process of lithium extraction will continue to pose an environmental threat. This is also a growing concern in the EV production industry.
So, what are the alternatives?
The Top 4 Lithium-Based Battery Alternatives
1. Saltwater Batteries
Saltwater oceans cover two-thirds of our planet. So, how can this resource be used for power generation?
Saltwater batteries use a concentrated saline solution to produce power. Saltwater batteries also contain an anode and a cathode, with the saline solution acting as the electrolyte (or vector) for positive sodium ions (Na+ ions). The sodium ions travel from the cathode to the anode, producing energy.
Actual seawater isn’t used in saltwater batteries, but mass amounts of salt can be harvested from the ocean and used for these batteries. Using saltwater to make batteries could be far less environmentally damaging than the extraction processes used for lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other metals used in batteries.
2. Glass Batteries
Glass batteries may sound a little unusual, but they have great potential. The glass battery is a relatively new idea, first conceptualized by physicist John Goodenough in 2017. This battery, known as the ‘Goodenough battery,’ uses glass as an electrolyte. While battery electrolytes usually come in liquid form, the glass battery is entirely solid.
The use of a solid electrolyte is considerably safer than liquid electrolytes, lowering the chance of fires and removing the risk of leaching in landfills. What’s more, the glass battery could last longer than lithium-ion batteries, making them a more sustainable alternative overall. Sodium is also used in the glass battery, which, as mentioned when discussing saltwater batteries, is a more sustainable resource than traditional battery metals.
3. Sodium-Sulfur Batteries
Sodium-sulfur (NaS) batteries are a form of liquid-state battery that use molten anodes and cathodes. In this case, the anode and cathode come in a liquid form, with the former being molten sodium and the latter being molten sulfur. These batteries have existed since the 1960s before the lithium-ion battery was invented. But what potential does the NaS battery have in our world?
A major advantage of sodium-sulfur batteries is their higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries. In fact, researchers at the University of Sydney created a sodium-sulfur battery with four times the energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries in 2022. What’s more, sodium-sulfur batteries are less toxic than lithium-ion batteries, which is good news for the environment.
4. Hemp Batteries
You wouldn’t think hemp has the potential to replace lithium-ion batteries, but this plant has proven its versatility once again. However, these batteries come with a caveat: they still use heavy metals like lithium to work.
Eco Watch reports that one example of a hemp-powered battery, developed by researchers in 2022, uses lithium and sulfur in its power generation process. The difference here is that other heavy metals, like nickel or cobalt, are not used, and the battery itself has an improved performance over traditional lithium-ion variants. This is because the hemp helps the cathode to extend its life through repeated cycles.
Hemp-based batteries are also more cost-effective and are being considered for use in electric vehicles. To learn about the different EV battery types, check out our dedicated piece on the topic.
The Battery Industry Could Become Much Greener in the Future
With such promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries already in the works, it’s exciting to think about the future of the battery industry. If such alternatives are successfully commercialized, we can prevent countless environmental issues and disasters. All in all, it’s a win-win for lithium-ion replacements!
Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/why-do-we-use-lithium-based-batteries/
Ref: makeuseof
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