The structure of a lithium-ion battery is complex and consists of several key components. The outermost layer is the casing, which contains the internal components and protects them from external damage. Inside the casing are two electrodes – a positive cathode and a negative anode – that are separated by an electrolyte.
Another essential part of a lithium-ion battery that is formed of lithium metal oxides is the cathode. The capacity, functionality, and safety of the battery are significantly impacted by the cathode material selection. Typical cathode components consist of:
Lithium-ion cells can be manufactured to optimize energy or power density. Handheld electronics mostly use lithium polymer batteries (with a polymer gel as an electrolyte), a lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO 2 or NMC) may offer longer life and a higher discharge rate.
Let us first briefly describe the main features of a lithium-ion battery and then point out the important role of voids in it. There are four components in a lithium-ion cell: anode, cathode, separator, and the nonaqueous electrolyte.
Working Principle of Lithium-ion Batteries The primary mechanism by which lithium ions migrate from the anode to the cathode in lithium-ion batteries is electrochemical reaction. Electrical power is produced by the electrons flowing through an external circuit in tandem with the passage of ions through the electrolyte.
There are three classes of commercial cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries: (1) layered oxides, (2) spinel oxides and (3) oxoanion complexes. All of them were discovered by John Goodenough and his collaborators. LiCoO 2 was used in the first commercial lithium-ion battery made by Sony in 1991.