Introduction
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are becoming more
common in portable electronic devices due to their
high energy density, lack of memory effect, and high
charge and discharge rate capabilities.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of lithium-ion batteries is their
high energy density.
The main disadvantage of Li-ion batteries is that they
require careful attention to safety. Overcharging,
overheating, or short-circuiting a charged Li-ion battery
can result in fire or explosion.
Lithium ions move from the positive to the
negative electrode during charging and from the
negative to the positive electrode as the battery is
discharged.
Charging and Discharging Li-ion Batteries
Proper charge control and protection circuitry is critical
for Li-ion batteries(
Figure 1
). Overcharging a Li-ion battery can
lead to a fire or explosion, and overdischarging can
permanently damage the battery. Many Li-ion batteries
have built-in protection circuitry.
Li-ion batteries are usually charged in two steps
. The first step is a constant-current charge at 0.5-1C
until the battery reaches its maximum voltage, usually