For many years, nickel-cadmium batteries, invented at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, were almost exclusively occupied with the issues of supplying portable electronics with energy. They are still encountered today, so it is logical to start the opus on the types of batteries with them.

Nickel-cadmium batteries (Ni-Cd)

Structurally, batteries of this type consist of positive and negative electrodes separated by a separator. They, in turn, are immersed in an alkaline electrolyte and all this is “packed” in a sealed metal case. The positive electrode contains nickel oxide-hydroxide, and the negative electrode contains cadmium, a heavy metal of increased toxicity. Actually, the "poisonous" nature of cadmium served as an impetus for the displacement of these batteries by other types of batteries.

Due to the ability to deliver the highest load current, Ni-Cd batteries are
an almost indispensable solution for high-speed power tools.

Nickel-cadmium batteries are cheap to manufacture and very reliable when properly maintained. However, they "remember" the remaining charge level. This is how the “memory effect” manifests itself. Its essence boils down to the fact that a new discharge of an incompletely empty battery is possible only up to the line from which the battery was started to be charged. In order to avoid this phenomenon, it is enough to follow a simple rule: charge only completely discharged nickel-cadmium batteries.

Good to know! Ni-Cd batteries begin to work at the declared parameters in full force after the "buildup", i.e. they must first be “trained” by performing 3-5 charge-discharge cycles.
Technology advantages: Technology cons:
a large number of discharge-charge cycles with proper maintenance; "memory effect";
the ability to deliver high load currents; high level of self-discharge (up to 8-10% on the first day);
fast charging with minimal stress; relatively low specific energy intensity;
excellent performance at sub-zero temperatures; toxic materials;
long shelf life (including in a discharged state); increased requirements for operating conditions.
low cost.

In modern realities, nickel-cadmium batteries are rare. Mostly they can be seen on board a power tool, because batteries of this type are best suited for operation with high discharge and charging currents.

Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries (Ni-Mh)

Ni-Cd batteries were replaced by more environmentally friendly and safer nickel-metal hydride batteries, labeled Ni-Mh. They absorbed the best from the predecessor technology and "pumped" in other ways. They use nickel oxide as the cathode, and a hydrogen metal hydride electrode as the anode. The electrolyte is alkali.

On the basis of Ni-Mh technology, in particular, professionals from the detachment of rechargeable batteries have been created - Panasonic Eneloop batteries.

Without going into the intricacies of the chemical processes occurring inside, it is worth noting that nickel-metal hydride batteries are less susceptible to the "memory effect", they are also characterized by high stability of the operating voltage - it does not drop until the battery is completely discharged. With similar sizes with Ni-Cd batteries, the specific energy capacity of their followers is several times higher, but the self-discharge value of Ni-Mh batteries, on the contrary, has increased.

Technology advantages: Technology cons:
a third greater specific capacity; increased self-discharge;
less prone to "memory effect"; when charging, a lot of heat is generated;
use of non-toxic materials; working capacity decreases after 200-300 charge cycles;
excellent performance at sub-zero temperatures; sensitive to overcharging;
long resource; deep discharges will shorten the service life.
simple requirements for storage and transportation.

Most often, the technology uses rechargeable batteries in "finger" and "little" formats, which can then be used in any compatible devices. In particular, the notorious Panasonic Eneloop batteries are built on a nickel-metal hydride base.

Nickel has also been used to create less common batteries of the Ni-Fe(iron-nickel), Ni-Zn(nickel-zinc) and Ni-H(nickel-hydrogen) types.

The next step in the development of batteries was the integration into the masses of lithium-ion technology for building batteries.

Popular AAA batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (Li-Ion)

Lithium, as the lightest of the metals, has the highest electrochemical potential and provides the highest energy density. However, in its "pure" form, it is characterized by instability of behavior, which is why the risk of ignition of batteries created on its basis is high. In view of this, the bet was made on safer non-metallic lithium batteries based on lithium ions.

The Li-Ion marking can be seen on the cases of the lion's share of batteries for mobile devices.

Batteries of this type make nickel counterparts for most programme items. Their energy density is 2-3 times higher than that of Ni-Cd batteries, and the “memory effect” is completely invisible from the word. You can charge a lithium-ion battery regardless of the remaining energy reserves in the tanks.

Technology advantages: Technology cons:
high specific capacity; fear of negative temperatures;
high density of charging currents; limited number of charge-discharge cycles;
extremely low level of self-discharge; a controller is required for safe operation;
no "memory effect"; the battery is subject to aging;
long operational resource; high price.
the ability to create batteries of any shape and size.

Batteries based on lithium-ion technology are all around us - they can be found in mobile phones, tablets, wearable gadgets in the manner of smartwatches, laptops, cameras, etc.

A step towards solving safety problems in the charge-discharge of Li-Ion batteries was the development of a new generation of batteries, marked with the designation Li-Pol.

Popular phones with big batteries

Lithium polymer batteries (Li-Pol)

The key difference between lithium-polymer batteries and their counterparts from the Li-Ion genus is the use of a dry solid polymer electrolyte. Thanks to this , it became possible to assemble a battery in a case of any thickness, and not necessarily from a metal shell. The active introduction of technology into life is hindered by low electrical conductivity at room temperature.

Li-Pol technology is used to the fullest by "power banks".
Smartphones, tablets and other portable gadgets do not use "purebred" Li-Pol batteries, but kind of hybrids. They use a gel-like substance with lithium ions as an electrolyte.
Technology advantages: Technology cons:
can take any form; fear of negative temperatures;
high specific capacity and energy density; high internal resistance at room temperature;
low self-discharge current; a controller is required for safe operation;
no "memory effect"; susceptibility to degradation during long-term storage;
long operational life. high price.

The future is seen precisely behind Li-Pol batteries. However, batteries of new formats are already ready to seriously compete with them: Li-O2, Li-S and others, which are briefly described below.

What's in the future?..

For the most part, the lithium “substrate” was taken as the basis for the development of the “perfect” battery:

  • Li-O2 - lithium-air batteries. Instead of metal oxides, the electrolyte of such batteries uses carbon, which forms an electric current by reacting with air. Li-O2 batteries do not like contact with moisture, moreover, after a certain number of charge-discharge cycles, their performance indicators deteriorate. The technology also served as the basis for the creation of lithium-oxygen batteries with nanoparticles, which contain lithium ions and, in fact, oxygen. However, while it is even more "raw".
  • Li-S - lithium-sulfur batteries impress with their doubled energy intensity and long service life (over 1500 charge-discharge cycles). Putting batteries of this type on the conveyor is hampered by the issue of disposal of toxic sulfur compounds.
  • Lithium-nanophosphate batteries with nanoparticles included in the composition are able to provide a high charge rate and a large current output. Their active distribution is hindered by the large dimensions of the batteries and unresolved issues with "chargers".

Of the batteries of other formats, fluoride-ion batteries are of great interest. Fluorine anions are involved in charge transfer between the cathode and anode. The capacity of such batteries can be ten times greater than that of Li-Ion batteries, but a serious obstacle to their strong standing is the ability to work exclusively at high temperatures.

The widest distribution today in all types of autonomous vehicles is lithium-ion batteries, which put compactness and ergonomics above all.

Popular Power banks
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