What is a polymer lithium battery? How do polymer lithium batteries work?


2023/12/12 14:27:57
A Polymer Lithium-ion Battery is a type of Lithium-ion Battery that uses polymer materials instead of traditional liquid electrolytes. Polymer lithium batteries work similarly to traditional liquid electrolyte lithium-ion batteries, but there are some significant differences in the electrolyte.
Here's how the polymer lithium battery works:
Positive and negative electrode materials: The positive electrode of polymer lithium batteries is usually composed of lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) or other lithium compounds, while the negative electrode is usually composed of graphite or other carbon materials. These materials undergo separate electrochemical reactions during charging and discharging, allowing lithium ions to move between positive and negative electrodes.
Polymer solid electrolyte: Unlike traditional liquid electrolyte batteries, the electrolyte of polymer lithium batteries uses a solid polymer material, such as polyethylene oxide (PEO) or other polymers. This electrolyte is solid and not liquefied, but it has enough ion conductivity to allow lithium ions to move between positive and negative electrodes during charging and discharging.
Charging process: During charging, lithium ions are released from the positive electrode and move through the polymer electrolyte towards the negative electrode. At the same time, the positive electrode oxidizes, and the negative electrode absorbs lithium ions. This causes the positive end of the battery to be positively charged and the negative end to be negatively charged.
Discharge process: During discharge, lithium ions are released from the negative electrode and move through the polymer electrolyte towards the positive electrode. At the same time, the positive electrode has a reduction reaction, and the negative electrode releases lithium ions. This causes the positive side of the battery to become neutral and the negative side to become neutral.
Battery output current: During charging and discharging, a current is generated between the positive and negative terminals of the battery, which can be used to provide electrical energy for the device.
Safety: Polymer lithium batteries have higher safety relative to some liquid electrolyte batteries, because they are not easy to leak or cause fire, and perform better in high temperature conditions.
It should be noted that the specific materials and structures of different polymer lithium batteries may be different, but the general principle is similar. The solid electrolyte of polymer lithium batteries gives them high safety and design flexibility, so they are becoming more and more popular in some applications.