The lithium-ion battery has been a hot topic over recent years, especially after Tesla released their Model S electric car that had no other choice than using them. They are responsible for producing the electricity needed by vehicles like the Model S, and they have developed into one of the best batteries on the market. Lithium-ion batteries provide the power for electric cars today, and they offer several advantages not found anywhere else. One of the biggest reasons is their ability to store large amounts of energy in a small space.

 In this video, we take a look at some top benefits of lithium-ion batteries, along with how they work and what makes them tick. We then dive into Tesla's use of these batteries and why other automakers are beginning to follow suit.

 In addition to learning about the technology behind lithium-ion batteries, I share my insights about where they're heading and whether we'll ever find out why the world's electric vehicle market is struggling.

The History Of Lithium-ion Batteries

 Lithium was discovered in 1817 by Hans Reichenbach while he searched for the cause of volcanic explosions. He observed that the earth's crust moves much faster than expected after the eruption of Vesuvius Island in Italy. Reichenbach concluded that this motion was caused by a massive amount of molten rock rising from below the Earth's surface due to the explosion. From his work came the term 'lithium'. His discovery became known as the first element named after a mineral.

How a battery works?

 Batteries are like any other device where energy is stored. When you plug your phone into a charger, electrons flow from the negative terminal of the charger to the positive terminal of your iPhone. This causes current to flow through a wire connecting the two terminals that create electrical power. With batteries, this is done inside the battery.

 A chemical reaction takes place between the positive and negative electrodes (the parts that touch each other) causing these materials to become charged. Inside the battery, chemicals called electrolytes move around through tiny pores and conduct electricity. As long as they remain in contact with the positive and negative plates, the battery can store energy.

 The amount of charge placed on a battery is measured in milliampere-hour (mAh). Most modern devices use lithium-ion batteries, which have mAh ratings ranging from 1000 mAh, to 8000 mAh.

 Once you’ve drained the last drop of juice out of your current device, the battery no longer provides power. But don't worry! There are plenty of ways to recharge your device without having to buy a new battery. Your car has a small battery that keeps your starter motor running even after you turn off the ignition. You can find similar sized batteries at home improvement stores that keep your smoke alarm running night and day. Even old TVs and computers contain small batteries that help keep them working until you can get to them to recharge.

 Lithium-ion batteries come in different sizes, shapes, and colors. However, there are three basic types: cylindrical, button, and prismatic. Each type of battery contains either silver or nickel metal oxide cathodes and graphite or lithium cobalt oxide anodes.

 Anode material helps determine battery capacity. Graphite is harder than lithium cobalt oxide and therefore less dense. This allows it to hold more space within the battery and increases its ability to conduct electrons. On the other hand, lithium cobalt oxide is softer than graphite and tends to expand if too much pressure is applied. This makes it difficult to stack multiple layers of lithium cobalt oxide together. Because of this reason, prismatic cells are commonly used for portable electronics, while cylindrical cells are often preferred for large stationary applications.

The pros and cons of lithium-ion batteries

 Pros

 They are lighter than lead acid batteries. They have better capacity, are safer, and last longer.

  Cons

 They are expensive. If they fail to charge your device, they could overheat and catch fire. They don't hold a charge well. They can get damaged easily if dropped. Most laptops use lithium-ion batteries.

Applications for lithium-ion batteries

 Lithium-ion Batteries (Li-Ion)

 With the rapid advancement of technology, the world has become increasingly dependent on electronics. Li-Ion batteries are used extensively in portable electronic devices such as laptops, tablets, phones, cameras, etc. These are non-flammable, environmentally friendly and can store large amounts of energy. They are also widely used in hybrid electric vehicles.

 Magnesium Battery

 These batteries use magnesium as the anode and carbon material as the cathode. When electricity passes through the battery, magnesium ions move through the electrolyte towards the positive electrode, where they combine with electrons to form a magnesium atom. As this happens, magnesium ions diffuse from the negative electrode into the electrolyte. The magnesium atoms then react with electrons at the surface of the cathode to form magnesium cations that travel back across the electrolyte to the negative electrode, completing the circuit.

Alkaline Battery

 This type of battery uses zinc/manganese dioxide as the anode and copper oxide as the cathode. Electrical current causes oxygen gas to evolve at the anode, while zinc metal is formed at the cathode. Zinc is oxidized to produce zinc(II) hydroxide, which dissolves in water, forming a solution called alkaline solution. Manganese dioxide is reduced to manganese hydroxide, which also dissolves in the electrolyte. In this way, electrical energy is converted directly into chemical energy.