In Search of A Good Battery

Ok, I have decided to devote this article to the issues to be in search of a good battery. My need is really simple, I want a battery that can last for 3-4 years, and hold a whole day of charge. (My day is 10-12 hours.) But that is not always the case. Inside of every great gadget I have lies a battery, that has the potential of dissapointing me some day.

To be more specific, the lithium ion battery is the standard of the day. It works by repelling ions across a lithium cathode over to a carbon anode. In the carbon anode, they can be stored for future use. Later, my nifty little gadget will want to get at the current stored there. This happens as the current flows back to the lithium cathode. The are all electro-chemical reactions. These needed little ions pass to and fro across the cathode and anode, making our world of electric gadgets happen.

The lithium ion battery is the one of choice because because they are very light, and can be very small, making them suited for electronics. They can hold a good chaqrge, and can be charged multiple times. My problem is, I want them to last forever.

Our Lithium ion batteries will start dying from birth. With regular use, they can wear out in less than a couple of years. Along the way, the lithium ion battery goes through the human equivalent of congestive heart failure, and the ability of the battery degredates. You get energy loss and shorter charge times, which can lead to undesirous results in my favorite techy gadgets.

The culprit of this degredation is the cathode. The lithium is slowly changed over time, from the chemical reactions. Some small deposits end up on the lithium, which damages their ability to transfer charges. Simply, they become less receptive over the course of the battery life. The left over deposits are tiny bits of metal.

Batteries can also decompose over time. The cathode will oxidize, leaving a rust like substance on the cathode, which blocks the conductivity of the cathode. So, you end up with an old battery that is rusted, has broken electrodes, and corroded surfaces.

We really don’t want to change batteries though. There are bigger batteries that could last longer, but we don’t want the size or the weight of these in our every smaller gadgets.

Well, the future does look promising. There are many companies working on ways to make our batteries better. Lithium ion technology is reaching a peak, so many companies will be looking for other options for making cathodes. On another front, some companies are experimenting with elements like silicon to replace the carbon based anodes of today.

Of one thing I am sure, though. Our demand for better batteries will keep the R & D departments of the major battery technology companies looking for better options. In the meantime, I guess I’ll just have to get happy with the batteries I have.

Johnny Smoes,

Zanity.com.au