Lithium Ion Battery Report

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Should Lithium-ion battery be used widely as rechargeable battery in torchlights compared to disposable alkaline battery?

Battery is a device containing one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Every battery has a cathode, or positive plate, and an anode, or negative plate. These electrodes are separated and are usually immersed in electrolyte that allows the movement of ions as the electron flows between the positive and negative terminals. The very basic operating principle of a battery is shown on the diagram below.

The diagram of a simple cell.

The anode and cathode of the battery is made up of two different types of metals. The metal with higher electronegativity becomes the cathode …show more content…

However, the process of converting chemical energy to electrical energy during discharging of a rechargeable battery produces product that can later be used for the reversed reaction which is the process of converting electrical energy to chemical energy. In simpler manner, the reaction in a rechargeable battery is reversible.

The diagram shows the working principle of charging and discharging of a Lithium ion battery.

During discharging process, Lithium ions, 〖Li〗^+carry the current from negative to positive electrode through the non-aqueous electrolyte. However, during charging process, an electrical power source is applied at a higher voltage than the voltage produced by the battery, forcing the current to pass in reverse direction (Linden & B. Reddy eds. 2002). The Lithium ions, 〖Li〗^+moves from the positive to negative electrode. The ions then become embedded in the porous electrode before the battery is used again and being discharged back to the positive electrode.

Reactions occurring in a type of Lithium ion battery are as follows.
Positive electrode half reaction:
LiCoO_2⇄〖Li〗_(1-n) CoO_2+〖nLi〗^++〖ne〗^-
Where n is the number of mole of the chemical involved in the …show more content…

Wide usage of rechargeable Lithium ion batteries that offers multiple usage reduces the disposal of batteries in general thus reducing the environmental pollution. Besides, rechargeable batteries are commonly recycled compared to alkaline batteries as the materials offer little value.

In conclusion, rechargeable Lithium-ion battery shall be used widely in torchlights compared to disposable alkaline battery. This is because wide usage of rechargeable batteries guarantees reduction in usage of disposable alkaline batteries that are harmful to the environment. Fewer usage of disposable alkaline battery ensures lesser greenhouse gas emission due to end-of-life recycling of the battery. Lithium-ion battery is also preferred to be used in torchlights compared to alkaline battery due to the consistency in maintaining efficiency and the longer shelf-life offered. Prolonged usage of rechargeable batteries over disposable ones is also cost-efficient and offers value for

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