TYPES OF BATTERY

TECHNOLOGIES – Simplifying for

Civil Services Exams
COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY AKSHAY VRAT (TO BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH CLASS DISCUSSIONS)

BATTERY TECHNOLOGY
• Batteries store chemical energy that converts into electric energy and makes other devices work. A battery
at times contains a collection of cells inside, which you can say that it’s a smallest unit of a battery. All cells
primarily contain two electrodes (Positive and Negative) which are further connected to respective
terminals.
• (As discussed in Class) The concept of Battery is based on the difference of charge potential (Voltage)
maintained at both ends of the battery. Where one terminal is positive and the other is Negative. Due to
this charge difference a potential for movement of electrons is created and as the two terminals are
connected to an external circuit, electrons start to flow. This flow of electrons is known as electric current.
Now this charge difference between the two electrodes is created mostly through a chemical reaction. So
basically, batteries are tiny chemical reactors that produce energetic electrons as an ultimate reaction and
flow through the connected device.

• Source: stickmanphysics.com
• Although with advancement in Battery technology there are other methods also to create a potential
difference so that excited electrons can flow.
• This handout lays some popular and futuristic battery technologies which should be important for CSE.
• Specific energy of a Battery or massic energy is energy per unit mass. It is also
sometimes called gravimetric energy density. It’s denoted as Watt Hour per Kg.
where Watt is the unit of power.
• Energy Density of a Battery: It’s the energy per unit Volume. Defined as Joule per
Miscellaneous Litre.
Terms
• Specific Power: Now we already know that power is the rate of flow of energy or
energy per unit time, so Specific power of Battery is the ability to deliver power. It’s
denoted as Watt per Kg. This means how much power a cell can provide per kg, If a
Li-ion battery says that it can deliver 100 watt of power in 1kg of Li-ion cell, then in

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order to provide 200 watt of power we would require 2kg of of Li-ion cell.
• Electrical Capacity: It’s the measure of the total energy required for producing one
Milliampere of current for one hour. More the value of mAH means longer the
battery can run.

• They are a type of primary cell (single use only) non rechargeable cells. They are
most popularly used cells in our daily utilities and also have a good shelf life of
almost 5 to 7 years. This means the chemicals used in these cells are able to hold
Alkaline batteries their potential for 5 to 7 years. They are made of Zinc and Manganese dioxide
ZnMnO² which is Basic in nature (this they are called Alkaline batteries) undergoes a
chemical reaction that releases electron which are made to travel over the circuit
producing electricity.

• They are secondary batteries which can be recharged when they lose the potential
difference between the terminals.
• Li-ion battery technology allows the highest level of energy density. Performances
such as fast charge or temperature operating window (-50°C up to 125°C) can be
fine-tuned by the large choice of cell design and chemistries. Furthermore, li-ion
batteries display additional advantages such as very low self-discharge and very
long lifetime and cycling performances, typically thousands of charging/discharging
cycles.
Lithium-ion • In lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries, electrical energy and release is provided by the
battery movement of lithium ions from the positive to the negative electrode back and forth
with the help of an electrolytic medium. Electrolytic medium is just a mixture of
negative and positive ions. Li-ion cells also use a materials like Graphite and Nickel
which are used in electrodes and separator. It's the movement of Li ion that
produces electricity so if we can increase the Li ion movement across the electrodes
and also more storage of Li in each electrode, more current will flow or the overall
energy density of the cell will improve.
• So, most innovations in Li ion battery technology are rooted into finding new
materials to store more Li. Some examples of new Li ion battery technology are
mentioned in the next topic.

Lithium Sulphur • Offer higher energy density, in fact 4 times more than traditional Li ion battery. They
batteries are considered suitable for space crafts and Aeroplanes.

• They use a solid-state electrolyte in between the electrodes, in contrary to the liquid
Solid state electrolyte present in most Li ion batteries. They are found to be safer, non-
battery flammable, high energy density, lighter in weight, and low self-discharge rate.
• They are considered suitable for EVs.

• This is the battery technology used mostly by Chinese EV manufacturers such as

BYD. In this one of the electrodes of the battery is made of Lithium iron phosphate
Lithium Iron LiFePO4. Its energy density is lower than other Li ion batteries but it has
Phosphate (LFP) environmental advantage. Usually, Li ion batteries contains Manganese and Cobalt
Battery as electrode materials which not only rare earth elements but are also toxic in
nature. Whereas the LFP batteries uses the non-toxic iron and Phosphorus which
are also cheaper. Rest of the properties are very much comparable to other Li ion
cells.

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Aluminum Ion • These are other popular options of secondary cells in which movement of Al3+ ions
Battery are used in place of Li ion to create the potential difference. An Al ion is formed with
release of 3 electrons that means each ion of aluminium can generate 3 times more
charge than a Li-ion. This it's energy density is higher that Li-ion battery. Besides
Aluminium is more abundant than Lithium thus these batteries are expected to be
cheaper and less pollution in production.
• The problems with Al-ion batteries are mostly similar to Sodium ion batteries i.e.
they have short life, less charging cycles and the electrolytic medium used can leak
more frequently due to larger size of Al ion.

• It could be a good replacement for Li-ion battery. Instead of Li+ ion it uses a Sodium
ion Na+ as a charge carrier.

• They are considered to be cheaper and ecofriendly than Li-ion batteries as Lithium
firstly is a scarcely found on Earth and it's mining and processing is highly polluting.
Sodium ion Whereas for sodium it's reserve is richly found in sea water.
battery
• Apart from cost it's other advantages could be safety against fire, almost similar
energy density to that of Li-ion battery, similar temperature range as well.

• Although their could be some limitations of Sodium Ion batteries that they may be
heavier than Li-ion and their charging cycles may also be less.

• PV (Photovoltaic) systems are like any other electrical power generating systems,
just the equipment used is different than that used for conventional electricity
generating systems.

Solar PV cell

• Although a PV array produces power when exposed to sunlight, a number of other

components are required to properly conduct, control, convert, distribute, and
store the energy produced by the array.
• Sunlight is composed of photons, or particles of radiant solar energy.
• These photons contain various amounts of energy depending on the wavelength or
frequency of the solar spectrum.
• When the photons strike a solar cell, some are absorbed while others are reflected.
• When the material absorbs sufficient photon energy, electrons within the solar cell

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material dislodge from their atoms.

• The electrons migrate to the front surface of the solar cell, which is manufactured to
be more receptive to the free electrons.
• When many electrons, each carrying a negative charge, travel toward the front
surface of the cell, the resulting imbalance of charge between the cell's front and
back surfaces creates a voltage potential like the negative and positive terminals of
a battery.
• When the two surfaces are connected through an external load, electricity flows.
• The performance of a photovoltaic array is dependent upon sunlight. Climate (e.g.
clouds, fog) has a significant effect on the amount of solar energy received by a PV
array and, in turn, its performance.
• Most "commercial" photovoltaic modules are about 10 - 15% percent efficient in
converting sunlight to electricity with further research being conducted to raise this
efficiency.
• Experimental cells with conversion efficiencies in excess of 30 per cent are now
possible.

• A fuel cell by definition is an electrical cell, which unlike storage cells can be
continuously fed with a fuel so that the electrical power output is sustained
indefinitely.
• Electrical energy is produced by converting hydrogen, or hydrogen containing fuels,
directly along with heat through the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and
oxygen into water.
• The process is known as electrolysis in reverse
• Overall Reaction: 2H2 gas + O2 gas → H2O + energy
Hydrogen Fuel • Because hydrogen and oxygen gases are electrochemically converted into water,
Cell fuel cells have many advantages over heat engines.
• These include: high efficiency, virtually silent operation and, if hydrogen is the fuel,
there are no pollutant emissions.
• If the production of hydrogen is from renewable energy sources (such as wind,
solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric power), then the entire system is truly
sustainable.
• Formation of water and carbon dioxide are the two principle reactions in the
burning of any hydrocarbon fuel. With the formation of water becoming more
significant, there is an increase in the hydrogen content in a fuel resulting in lower
carbon dioxide emissions.

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• This is different from conventional battery storage, as it works on the principle of

using heat to store energy.

• India became home to the world’s first-ever thermal battery plant, that was
inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh.

• Conventional battery technology is based on the system of charging/discharging

cycles that are driven by electricity. For example, the Lithium-ion battery, a staple of
many electronic devices, consists of electric charges being transferred from
electrodes. Energy is derived from this battery, when lithium atoms turn into lithium
ions (Li+), and get stored when this reaction reverses. Therefore, Li-ion batteries
work on the basis of electrical energy.

• Thermal batteries, on the other hand, use thermal energy to operate, i.e., the
Thermal Battery energy created by temperature differences. Therefore, the energy transfer in
thermal batteries helps store heat when heat travels from one part of the battery
setup to the other. For that to happen, a thermal battery consists of two parts: a
cool zone known as sink, and a hot source called source. Both these sides consist of
compounds known as phase-changing materials (PCMs), which can change their
state of matter on the basis of a physical/chemical reaction.

• When the sink of a thermal battery receives heat, it transforms physically or

chemically, thereby storing energy, while the source cools down. During operation,
the sink is cooled down, so it releases the stored energy, while the source heats up.
Depending on the nature of the battery, the system can derive heat from any
source, which makes a thermal battery very versatile. Thermal battery technology
was patented in India by Dr Patrick Glynn in 2016.

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• Given the positives from thermal battery technology, its main application lies in the
possible integration with power grids, that can help industrial demand, while also
supporting public transport systems and telecom grids. In the field of power
transmission, thermal batteries will be able to function as long as there is a heat
source to drive their operation. This could help solve power issues in remote areas,
and also address rising energy requirements from regional or national grids.

• Telecom infrastructure is also a target area, as thermal batteries will help maintain
signal strength and network connectivity. This, in turn, could also improve internet
penetration and ultra-fast mobile services.

• Store energy in the form of electric field.

• Releases it all at once.

• Camera flash works on capacitors.

• Takes less time to charge.

• Super capacitors are used for electric vehicles, or heavy devices.

• They can have quick charge and discharge cycles.

• Micro super capacitors developed by IISc Bengaluru, made by Graphene, CNT

Magnesium dioxide activated Carbon.

• Dielectric Electrolytic solution is separated by activated carbon in the middle.

• When external voltage is applied charge starts flowing.

• After drinking sea water, a person tends to feel thirstier because the pressure of
magnesium due to its concentration decreases the osmotic pressure of blood.

Super
Capacitors

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