BATTERY TECHNOLOGY

Applications using Batteries

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Introduction:
A Battery is an electrochemical cell or often several electrochemical cells
connected in series that can be used as a source of direct electric current
at a constant voltage.
Uses:
 Batteries are used in calculators, watches and pacemakers for heart
hearing aids, computers, car engines, stand by power supplies,
emergency lightning in hospitals, electroplating industrial reactions and
military and space applications.
 Batteries have revolutionized the telecommunication system.
 Created a new era of transportation with the possible replacement of
petrol driven automobiles by the electrical powered ones.
 In modern days portability of electronic equipment’s in the form of
handsets has been made possible by batteries.
 Battery

Duracell batteries 9v battery 6v dry cell

A cell is a device used

to convert chemical
energy into electrical
energy, a battery being
a combination of two/
more cells.
Battery technology
Note: The size of the batteries ranges from a fraction of a cubic centimeter to several
cubic decimeters.
COMPONENTS OF A BATTERY

Terminals

Seal with
vent

Anode (-ve) Cathode

(+ve)
Anode active material
Cathode active material
Separator Electrolyte
WORKING OF A BATTERY
Flow of electrons Flow of
electrons DC power supply
Anode Cathode Anode
Cathode
-ve +ve +ve
-ve

Active Active
species species
MCY

(a) (b)

Electroactive material:
 When anode and cathode are connected by a metallic wire through load,
spontaneous the reaction occurs at anode and cathode.
 Material which take part in the spontaneous reactions are called electroactive
materials.
 Classification of Batteries
Primary Batteries:
Electroinactive materials cannot be converted in to electroactive materials, Irreversible
batteries.
Ex: Dry cell, Alkaline Battery

Secondary Batteries:
Electroinactive materials can be converted in to electroactive materials, reversible batteries
by passing current in opposite direction.
Ex: Lead-acid battery, Ni-Cd Battery, Ni-MH Battery

Reserve Batteries :
These are inactive when not in use and may be activated in several ways prior to the
application. In principle batteries without vital component.
Ex: Silver Chloride Cell, Mg/water/AgCl/Ag
Magnesium Battery, Mg/water/ Cu2 Cl2, Cu

 Electrolyte activated batteries

 Heat activated batteries
 Gas activated batteries
 PRIMARY BATTERY

• CANNOT BE RECHARGED

• CHEMICAL PROCESS NOT REVERSABLE

• ZINC CARBON (1.5V)

• ALKALINE (1.5V)
 SECONDARY CELLS
• CAN BE RECHARGED

• CHEMICAL REACTION REVERSABLE

• LEAD ACID (2.0V)

• NICKEL - CADMIUM (1.2V)
• NICKEL - METAL HYDRIDE (1.2V)
• LITHIUM – ION (3.3V)
During discharge, oxidation takes place at the anode and
reduction takes place at the cathode. The reaction is a spontaneous

reaction. Chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.

Example: Lead-acid battery,
During charging, reverse reactions take place. The revers
reactions are non-spontaneous reactions. The battery is connected to
an external d.c power supply.
Electrical energy is converted in to chemical energy.
Example: The reverse of the above reactions occur during
charging.
At anode: electrons are released to the external circuit.
At cathode: electrons from the external circuit are
 Discharging
At anode
Ma Ma+n + ne-
At Cathode
McY + ne- Mc + Y-n

 During the reactions (Oxidation/Reduction), the electroactive

materials are converted in to products called electroinactive
materials.

 The process in which electroactive materials are converted in

to electroinactive materials is called discharging.

 During discharging the emf of a cell decreases.

 Recharging (Charging)
At Cathode
Mc + Y-n McY + ne-
At Anode
Ma+n + ne- M
 In some cases the electroinactive materials can be converted
back to electroactive materials by passing electricity in
opposite direction.
 This process is called charging of a battery.
 During charging the emf of a cell gradually increases and
reaches its initial value.
 Lithium Batteries
 Lithium is the lightest of metals and it can float on water.

 The electrochemical properties of lithium are excellent

and it is also a highly reactive material.

 These properties gives Lithium the potential to achieve

very high energy and power densities in high-density
battery applications such as automotive and standby
power.

 Lithium batteries are primary batteries in which lithium

metal (or) lithium compound acts as a Anode. A lithium
cell can produce voltage from 1.5 V to about 3 V based
on the types of materials used.
Types of Lithium Batteries:
Lithium
Batteries

Lithium
metal Lithium ion
batteries batteries

 pure lithium metallic  lithium compounds are

element is used as anode. used as anode.
 Primary batteries  Secondary batteries.
 Not rechargeable  Rechargeable batteries
Characteristics

• High Energy Density

• High Voltage
• No memory effect
• Flat discharge voltage( stable power)
• Low self discharge 1/10 compared with
Ni-MH/ Ni-Cd battery
• Li ion battery uses LiCoO2 as Cathode
• Specialty carbon as negative electrode

In Li batteries there is merely a migration of Li ions between +ve and –Ve electrodes.
No chemical changes are observed in two electrodes or in the electrolytes.
Lithium Ion Battery
Construction:
 Anode: Lithium metal dissolved into a carbon.

 Cathode: The cathode material is made up from Lithium

liberating compounds, typically the three electro-active
oxide materials,
Lithium Cobalt-oxide (LiCoO2 )
Lithium Manganese-oxide (LiMn2 O4 )
Lithium Nickel-oxide (LiNiO2)

 Electrolyte: Lithium salts like LiPF6, LiBF4, LiAsF6 dissolved

in organic solvents, ( mixed in propylene
carbonate, ethylene carbonate solvent)
Electrolyte should help in effective conduction of Li-ions to
cathode during discharge (ionic conductivity rather than electronic conductivity)
 Seperator: A fine porous polymer film
 Li- ion Electrolyte
Cathode Anode

Li-Ion battery Principle

Li doping is charging reaction 18

Undoping is discharging
Working :

The chemical reaction that takes place inside the battery is as

follows, during charge and discharge operation:

During discharge:

At Anode: Li ions present in graphite layer will be oxidized.

Electrons will flow through external circuit to cathode and
lithium ions flow through the organic electrolyte towards
cathode.
Li-C6 x Li+ + 6C +x e-

At Cathode: Li-ions are reduced to Li and are inserted in to the

layered structure of metal oxide.
x Li+ + xe- + Li(1-x)CoO2 LiCoO2

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Overall reaction: LiC+ Li(1-x)CoO2 LixCoO2 + 6C
Working Cont…

During charging:

At Cathode:
Li ions present in layered structure of LiCoO2 will be oxidized.
Electrons will flow through external circuit to cathode and
lithium ions flow through the organic electrolyte towards
cathode.
LiCoO2 x Li+ + xe- + Li(1-x)CoO2

At anode:
Li-ions are reduced to Li and are inserted in to the layered
structure of graphite.
xLi+ + 6C + xe- Li-C6

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Overall reaction: LixCoO2 + 6C LiC6 + Li(1-x)CoO2
 Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages

 They have high energy density than other rechargeable

batteries
 They are less weight
 They produce high voltage out about 4 V as compared with
other batteries.
 They have improved safety, i.e. more resistance to
overcharge
 Fast charge and discharge rate.
Disadvantage

 They are expensive

 Applications
 The Li-ion batteries are used in cameras, calculators

 They are used in cardiac pacemakers and other

implantable device

 They are used in telecommunication equipment,

instruments, portable radios and TVs, pagers

 They are used to operate laptop computers and mobile

phones and aerospace application
  Li-ion battery system Additional info

Electrochemical Reactions

• Cathode
c
LiCoO2 Li1-xCoO2 + xLi+ + x e-
d
• Anode
c
Cn + xLi+ + x e- CnLix
d

• Overall
c
LiCoO2 + Cn Li1-xCoO2 + CnLix
d

Figure. Schematic illustration of a rechargeable lithium battery

(From: K. Xu, Encyclopedia of Power Sources, Elsevier, 2010)

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 Structure of anode and cathode Additional info
 Charging and discharging reactions
Lithium-Ion Battery Charge

Electrolyte

Cu AL
Current Current
Collector Collector

Graphite LiMO2

SEI SEI
 Charging and discharging reactions
Additional info
Lithium-Ion Battery Discharge

Electrolyte

Cu AL
Current Current

Collector Collector

Graphite LiMO2

SEI SEI
FUEL CELLS
  Fossil fuels are conventional energy sources.
 The chemical energy of a fuel is converted into electrical
energy as follows.
Chemical
Energy

Thermal
energy
Combustion process,
Through redox
Loss of energy in every step,
reactions efficiency Mechanical Energy effeciency-35-40%
would be as high as Energy
70-75%
Electrical
Energy
Combustion “Fuel cells are the galvanic cells
reactions are in which chemical energy of a
replaced by fuel is directly converted in to
Redox Possible in
FUEL CELLS electrical energy by means of
reactions
redox reactions involving fuels
and oxidants.”
 Representation of Fuel Cells
Fuel/ Electrode/ Electrolyte/ Electrode/ Oxidant

Cell Reactions:
At Anode: Fuel Oxidised Product + ne
At Cathode: Oxidant + ne Reduced Product

Over all cell reaction: Fuel + Oxidant Oxidised product + Reduced Product
Special Features of Fuel cells

Fuel cells consists of two catalytically active

electrodes, oxidant and a reductant.
The fuel and oxidants are not stored in the cell.
The thickness of the cell may be less than one cm.
In a fuel cell, redox reaction occurs involving fuel
and oxidant.
Fuel cells are energy conversion devices.
Eco friendly devices.
Fuel undergoes oxidation where as oxidants
undergo reduction.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL CELL AND FUEL CELL

Batteries Fuel cells

They are energy storage device They are energy conversion devices
Battery electrodes doesn’t contain any The porous electrodes are impregnated with
catalysts catalyst
The active materials are complex Active materials are fuel and oxidant
chemical compounds
The active materials are placed along The active material such as fuel and oxidants
with the electrodes are continuously pumped from outside.
The battery components may be By-products of fuel cells are environmentally
environmental pollutants green
Recharging of battery is required Recharging is not required
Electrode materials are very cheep Electrode materials are very costly
 Classification of fuel cells X
 Classification based on electrolyte.
Sl No Type Electrolyte Anode Cathode Temp.
range
1 Alkaline fuel cells KOH Porous C/Pt Porous C/Ag 80°C

2 Phosphoric acid fuel Phosphoric acid Pt Pt 160-

cells (PAFC) 220°C

3 Molten carbonate Molten metal Ni/Cr(2-10%) Ni/Li(2-10%) 650°C

fuel cells (MCFC) carbonates

4 Solid oxide fuel cells Solid metal Porous NiZnO2 Porous 650-
(SOFC) oxides LaMnO3 1000°C

5 Solid Polymer Polymer Pt Pt 80°C

electrolyte fuel cells membrane
(SPEFC) containing
Fluorocarbon
with SO3H group
 X
Animation of PEMFC
 X
Contd.....

Why methanol is preferred over hydrogen fuel ?

 Energy density: Methanol: 4.8 Wh/cm3

Hydrogen: 2.7 Wh/cm3
 Easy transportation and handling
 Readily available, relatively lesser cost
 Stable at all atmospheric conditions

(Silva et al, 2005)

 Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC)

 Sub-category of PEMFC
 Fuel at anode: Methanol ; Oxidant at cathode: Oxygen
 Membrane used: Proton exchange membrane (PEM)

 Operating temperature: 50-1200C

 Power density: 240 mW/cm2

 Fuel cell efficiency: ~60%

 Power output: 0.1 – 15W

 Methanol-Oxygen Fuel cells:
Construction:
 Anode: Porous Ni / Pt-Pd Catalyst. Fuel at anode: Methanol
 Cathode: Porous Ni / Ag catalyst. Oxidant at cathode: Oxygen
 Electrolyte used: Concentrated KOH
 Membrane used: Proton exchange membrane (PEM)
 Operating temperature: 50-1200C

CH3OH + 6OH - CO2 + 5H2O + 6e- (1/2 O2 + H2O + 2e- 2OH - ) 3

Methanol-Oxygen Fuel cells:
Working:
Anodic reaction(Oxidation):
CH3OH + 6OH - CO2 + 5H2O + 6e-

Cathodic reaction (Reduction):

(1/2 O2 + H2O + 2e- 2OH -) X3

Overall reaction:
CH3OH + 3/2 O2 CO2 + 2H2O
EMF:1.186V
 The carbon dioxide liberated will react with electrolyte
(KOH) forms corresponding carbonate.

 This will reduce the efficiency of the fuel cell.

 Hence design of methanol-oxygen fuel cell in presence of

acid electrolyte is attempted
Methanol-Oxygen Fuel cells: (Alternate Form)
 Fuel at anode: Methanol
 Oxidant at cathode: Oxygen
 Electrolyte used: 3M H2SO4
 Membrane used: Proton exchange membrane (PEM)

Reactions:
Anodic reaction(Oxidation):
CH3OH + H2O CO2 + 6H+ + 6e-

Cathodic reaction (Reduction):

(1/2 O2 + 2H+ + 2e H2O)3

Overall reaction:
CH3OH + 3/2 O2 CO2 + 2H2O
 Applications
All kinds of portable, automotive and mobile applications like,
 Powering laptop, computers, cellular phones, digital cameras
 Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs)
 Spacecraft applications
 Any consumables which require long lasting power compare to Li-ion
batteries.
 Differences between batteries and fuel cells:

Battery Fuel Cells

Energy storage device Energy conversion device
Active material is stored in the Both fuel and oxidants are
battery supplied from outside
Active materials are not Products are environmental
environmental friendly friendly
Experimental set up