Nickel Cadmium batteries consist of a positive electrode (nickel oxide hydroxide), a negative electrode (cadmium), and an alkaline electrolyte (potassium hydroxide). These batteries employ a reversible electrochemical reaction between nickel and cadmium to store and release energy. Part 4. Nickel-cadmium battery advantages and limitations
Conclusion Most modern applications would prefer the Lithium-Ion battery over the Nickel-cadmium battery for energy density, longevity, and portability. They also prompt users to go with the Lithium-ion battery.
In general, it is possible to replace nickel cadmium batteries with lithium batteries, but it’s important to make sure that the replacement battery is compatible with the device and that any necessary modifications are made to ensure proper fit and function.
However, Li-ion batteries tend to have a higher energy density than Nickel-cadmium types. This explains why Li-ion batteries are normally lighter and smaller. When you need a lot of energy in a limited space, you may want to pick a battery with higher energy density. A good example of such applications is in smartphone battery technology.
For instance, while lithium-ion batteries have lithium oxide and graphite as the electrodes, NiCad batteries use nickel oxyhydroxide and cadmium. The electrolyte in NiCad batteries is aqueous potassium hydroxide, while lithium-ion batteries are called lithium salt. 2. Redox Reactions
The biggest drawback of nickel-cadmium batteries is they suffer from a "memory effect" if they are discharged and recharged to the same state of charge several times. The battery "remembers" the point in its charge cycle where recharging began and during subsequent use the voltage suddenly drops at that point, as if the battery had been discharged.