What is the principle of the charging reaction in automotive lithium batteries?
2 Answers
The principle of the charging reaction in automotive lithium batteries is that when the battery is charged, lithium ions are generated at the positive electrode. These generated lithium ions move through the electrolyte to the negative electrode. The negative electrode, made of carbon, has a layered structure with numerous micropores. The lithium ions that reach the negative electrode are embedded into these micropores in the carbon layers. The more lithium ions embedded, the higher the charging capacity. Lithium batteries used in automobiles serve as the power source for hybrid and electric vehicles. Due to certain technical performance aspects of nickel-metal hydride batteries, such as energy density and charge-discharge rates, which are approaching their theoretical limits, they are favored by consumers.
The electric vehicle I'm driving now uses lithium batteries. Every time I plug it into the charging station, chemical reactions inside the battery start working. The cathode material releases lithium ions, which travel through the electrolyte like workers commuting home and settle into the graphite layers of the anode. This moving process requires energy assistance, so the charger provides current to help the lithium ions move, while electrons take a detour through the external circuit to enter the anode. After charging is complete, the lithium ions are neatly embedded in the graphite interlayers, ready to work again the next time the car is driven. The entire charging process is like pumping water into a water tower to store energy. Designing a charging management system is particularly important to strictly control the charging current and voltage peaks, preventing overheating or overcharging.