Lithium Based Cells
Design:
Lithium metal is the most reactive metal that exists, giving away it's electrons the easiest of any metal, making Lithium one of the best metals to use in battery design. There are four basic designs for Lithium-based cells.
A solid Lithium metal, and a polymer electrolyte-separator cell,
A rolled Lithium metal based anode/polymer-electrolyte-separator/cathode type cell,
A cell with a Lithium-ion releasing anode, liquid electrolyte and a Lithium-ion accepting cathode
A combination Lithium-ion releasing anode, a polymer separator-electrolyte and a Lithium-ion accepting cathode.
Features:
Lithium batteries are ideal for many different applications. Any application that needs a high voltage and a small package would be ideal for this developing technology, something like cameras or cellular phones. Any application that needs a strange size or shape of battery would be suited for the Lithium battery too. Even applications that need very little current over a long period of time, such as smoke detectors (which reminds me folks, have you checked you smoke detector?) or backup batteries for the time and bios chip on computer motherboards. Lithium batteries are generally rechargeable, although a side reaction that destroys the electrolyte that can stop the reverse reaction is also very likely because of Lithium's high reactivity to almost everything. Lithium also forms a mossy type substance when recharging instead of a nice smooth surface, ultimately causing dendrites to form. These dendrites then short out the cell, causing overheating and possibly an explosion.
Uses:
Lithium batteries can be used in a wide range of applications from flashlights to emergency radios to portable equipment - any place where their unique combination of high power density, light weight, wide temperature range or long storage life characteristics are needed.
