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Featured ArticleFrom Ecopedia
Overview
Lithium-ion batteries (somtimes known as Li-ion battery or LIB) are rechargeable batteries that are commonly used in portable consumer electronics such as laptop computers and mobile devices. Instead of using metallic lithium, lithium-ion batteries make use of electrodes made of intercalated lithium compounds. The batteries are proposed for the first time by M.S. Whittingham from Binghamton University, Exxon.[1]
Lithium-ion cells incorporate energy-efficient features such as no memory effect, slower charge loss, superior energy-to-weight ratios and higher energy densities. These batteries have three basic functional components which are the Anode made from carbon or graphite, cathode, a metal oxide and Electrolyte, a lithium salt.[2]
Environmental Information
Safe for Landfills
As per the US federal government classification, lithium-ion batteries are termed as non-hazardous waste, safe for municipal water stream disposal. Lithium-ion batteries consist of copper, cobalt, iron and nickel metals, which are considered to be safe for landfills and incinerators (waste material combustion). Additonally, lithium ion batteries contain lithium in environmentally-safer ionic form instead of the lithium metal.[3]
Recycling
Lithium-ion batteries are considered to cause potential water contamination due to the presence of metals. So, instead of disposing the lithium-ion batteries in hazardous landfills and incinerators, where there is potential risk of leachate, many useful metals are recovered from the batteries and recycled for reuse in new products. [4]
Used in Eco-friendly Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
As lithium ion batteries are highly energy-efficient, eco-friendly hybrid electric vehicles incorporate lithium-ion batteries to ensure superior energy efficiency, leading to reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In addition, the batteries possess capability for enhanced charge efficiency without any memory effect, thus, aiding in protecting the environment against pollution.[5]
