Lithium batteries

Lithium batteries are primary batteries that have lithium as an anode. These types of batteries are also referred to as lithium-metal batteries.

They stand apart from other batteries in their high charge density (long life) and high cost per unit. Depending on the design and chemical compounds used, lithium cells can produce voltages from 1.5 V (comparable to a zinc–carbon or alkaline battery) to about 3.7 V.

Disposable primary lithium batteries are contrasted with secondary lithium-ion and lithium-polymer, which are rechargeable batteries, where ions move between the anode and the cathode, using an intercalated lithium compound as the cathode material and without using lithium metal as the anode material.

Lithium batteries are widely used in products such as portable consumer electronic devices.

The term "lithium battery" refers to a family of different lithium-metal chemistries, comprising many types of cathodes and electrolytes but all with metallic lithium as the anode. The battery requires from 0.15 to 0.3 kg of lithium per kWh.

The most common type of lithium cell used in consumer applications uses metallic lithium as anode and manganese dioxide as cathode, with a salt of lithium dissolved in an organic solvent.

Another type of lithium cell having a large energy density is the lithium-thionyl chloride cell. Invented by Adam Heller in 1973, Lithium-thionyl chloride batteries are generally not sold to the consumer market, and find more use in commercial/industrial: automatic meter reading (AMR) and medical: automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) applications. The electrolyte chemistry below isn't rechargeable. The cell contains a liquid mixture of thionyl chloride (SOCl₂), lithium tetrachloroaluminate (LiAlCl
4), and niobium pentachloride (NbCl
5) which act as the catholyte, electrolyte, and electron sink, dendrite preventative during reverse voltage condition, electrolyte, respectively. A porous carbon material serves as a cathode current collector which receives electrons from the external circuit. Lithium-thionyl chloride batteries are well suited to extremely low-current or moderate pulse applications where a service life of up to 40 years is necessary.

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