Battery Technology

Cheryl Salmonson
10/6/14

Applications using Batteries

Battery
Convert stored chemical energy into
electrical energy
Reaction between chemicals take
place
Consisting of electrochemical cells
Contains
Electrodes
Electrolyte

Electrodes and Electrolytes

Cathode
Positive terminal
Chemical reduction occurs (gain electrons)

Anode
Negative terminal
Chemical oxidation occurs (lose electrons)

Electrolytes allow:
Separation of ionic transport and electrical transport
Ions to move between electrodes and terminals
Current to flow out of the battery to perform work
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Battery Overview
Battery has metal or plastic case
Inside case are cathode, anode,
electrolytes
Separator creates barrier between
cathode and anode
Current collector brass pin in
middle of cell conducts electricity
to outside circuit

Primary Cell
One use (nonrechargeable/disposable)
Chemical reaction used, can not be
reversed
Used when long periods of storage
are required
Lower discharge rate than
secondary batteries
Use:
smoke detectors, flashlights, remote
controls
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Alkaline Battery
Alkaline batteries name came from the electrolyte in an alkane
Anode:zinc powder form
Cathode: manganese dioxide
Electrolyte: potassium hydroxide
The half-reactions are:
Zn(s) + 2OH(aq) ZnO(s) + H2O(l) + 2e [e = -1.28 V]
2MnO2(s) + H2O(l) + 2e Mn2O3(s) + 2OH(aq) [e = 0.15 V]

Overall reaction:
Zn(s) + 2MnO2(s) ZnO(s) + Mn2O3(s) [e = 1.43 V]
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Zinc-Carbon Battery
Anode:zinc metal body (Zn)
Cathode: manganese dioxide (MnO2)
Electrolyte: paste of zinc chloride and ammonium chloride dissolved in
water
The half-reactions are:
Zn(s) Zn2+(aq) + 2e- [e = -0.763 V]
2NH4+(aq) + 2MnO2(s) + 2e- Mn2O3(s) + H2O(l) + 2NH3(aq) + 2Cl- [e = 0.50 V]

Overall reaction:
Zn(s) + 2MnO2(s) + 2NH4Cl(aq) Mn2O3(s) + Zn(NH3)2Cl2(aq) + H2O(l) [e = 1.3
V]
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Primary Cell
Alkaline Battery

Zinc-Carbon Battery

Zinc powered, basic electrolyte

Higher energy density

Functioning with a more stable chemistry
Shelf-life: 8 years because of zinc powder
Long lifetime both on the shelf and better
performance
Can power all devices high and low
drains

Zinc body, acidic electrolyte

Case is part of the anode

Zinc casing slowly eaten away by the

acidic electrolyte

Cheaper then Alkaline

Shelf-life: 1-3 years because of metal

body

Intended for low-drain devices

Use:
Digital camera, game console, remotes

Use:

Kid toys, radios, alarm clocks

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Secondary Cells
Rechargeable batteries
Reaction can be readily reversed
Similar to primary cells except
redox reaction can be reversed
Recharging:
Electrodes undergo the opposite
process than discharging
Cathode is oxidized and produces
electrons
Electrons absorbed by anode
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Nickel-Cadmium Battery
Anode: Cadmium hydroxide, Cd(OH)2
Cathode: Nickel hydroxide, Ni(OH)2
Electrolyte: Potassium hydroxide,
KOH
The half-reactions are:
Cd+2OH- Cd(OH)2+2e2NiO(OH)+Cd+2e- 2Ni(OH)2+2OH-

Overall reaction:
2NiO(OH) + Cd+2H2O2Ni(OH)2+Cd(OH)2
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Nickel-Cadmium Battery
Maintain a steady voltage of 1.2v per cell until
completely depleted
Have ability to deliver full power output until end of
cycle
Have consistent powerful delivery throughout the entire
application
Very low internal resistance
Lower voltage per cell

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Nickel-Cadmium Battery
Advantages:
This chemistry is reliable
Operate in a range of temperatures
Tolerates abuse well and performs well after long periods of
storage

Disadvantages:
It is three to five times more expensive than lead-acid
Its materials are toxic and the recycling infrastructure for
larger nickel-cadmium batteries is very limited
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Lead-Acid Battery
Anode:Porous lead
Cathode:Lead-dioxide
Electrolyte: Sulfuric acid, 6 molar H2SO4
Discharging
(+) electrode: PbO2(s) + 4H+(aq) + SO42-(aq) + 2e- PbSO4(s) +
2H2O(l)
(-) electrode: Pb(s) + SO42-(aq) PbSO4(s) + 2e-
During charging
(+) electrode: PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l) PbO2(s) + 4H+(aq) + SO42-(aq)
+ 2e-
(-) electrode: PbSO4(s) + 2e- Pb(s) + SO42-(aq)
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Lead-Acid Battery
The lead-acid cells in automobile batteries are wet cells
Deliver short burst of high power, to start the engine
Battery supplies power to the starter and ignition
system to start the engine
Battery acts as a voltage stabilizer in the electrical
system
Supplies the extra power necessary when the vehicle's
electrical load exceeds the supply from the charging
system
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Lead-Acid Battery
Advantages:

Batteries of all shapes and sizes, available in

Maintenance-free products and mass-produced
Best value for power and energy per kilowatt-hour
Have the longest life cycle and a large environmental advantage
Ninety-seven percent of the lead is recycled and reused in new batteries

Disadvantages:
Lead is heavier compared to alternative elements
Certain efficiencies in current conductors and other advances continue
to improve on the power density of a lead-acid battery's design

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Lithium-Ion Battery
Anode: Graphite
Cathode: Lithium manganese dioxide
Electrolyte: mixture of lithium salts
Lithium ion battery half cell reactions
CoO2 + Li+ + e- LiCoO2 E = 1V
Li+ + C6+ e- LiC6 E ~ -3V

Overall reaction during discharge

CoO2 + LiC6 LiCoO2 + C6
Eoc = E+ - E- = 1 - (-3.01) = 4V
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Lithium-Ion Battery
Ideal material
Low density, lithium is light
High reduction potential
Largest energy density for weight

Li-based cells are most compact ways of storing electrical

energy
Lower in energy density than lithium metal, lithium-ion is safe
Energy density is twice of the standard nickel-cadmium
No memory and no scheduled cycling is required to prolong
battery life
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Lithium-Ion Battery
Advantages:
It has a high specific energy (number of hours of operation for a
given weight)
Huge success for mobile applications such as phones and notebook
computers

Disadvantages:
Cost differential
Not as apparent with small batteries (phones and computers)
Automotive batteries are larger, cost becomes more significant

Cell temperature is monitored to prevent temperature extremes

No established system for recycling large lithium-ion batteries
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Intro to Tesla Motors

Produces and Sells Electric Cars
Founded: 2003
Headquarters: Palo Alto, California
Servers: US, Canada, Western Europe, Middle
East, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand
Model S $71K - $94K, Model X available in 2015
6000 employees
Cars built in Fremont, CA (San Francisco suburb)
35,000 units expected to sell globally in 2014
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Lithium Rechargeable Batteries and

Tesla
High energy density - potential for yet higher capacities
Relatively low self-discharge, less than half of nickel-based batteries
Low Maintenance
No periodic discharge needed
No memory

Energy density of lithium-ion is three times of the standard lead

acid
Cost of battery
Almost twice of standard nickel-cadmium (40%)
Five times that of the standard lead acid
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Tesla Model S
The 85 kWh battery pack contains

7,104 lithium-ion battery cells

16 modules wired in series
14 in the flat section and 2 stacked on the front
Each module has six groups of 74 cells wired in parallel
The six groups are then wired in series within the module

How many AA batteries does it at take to power the

Model S ~35,417
Weigh approximately 320 kg
8 year infinite mile warranty on battery
350 to 400 VDC at ~200A Supercharging Station
110 VAC or 240 VAC charging voltages
http://www.teslamotors.com/goelectric#charging
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Teslas New Gigafactory

Opens 2017, Reno, Nevada
Employ up to 6,500 people and pay ~ $25/hr
Builds lithium-ion batteries
Cost to build Gigafactory
$5 Billion
Nevada pitching in $1+ Billion in incentives

$100 billion economic benefit over 20 years

Factory will help Tesla move closer to mass producing
$35,000 car with 200 mile range
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Conclusion
Companies or researchers are improving batteries

Reduced charging time

Increase amount of energy stored for size and weight
Increase life span, number of charges
Reduce Cost

Any predictions on where we might be in the future vs today?

Toyotas goal 4X today battery energy density, and 600 mile range for 2020

What cars, like Tesla, might be able to do in the future?

Higher performance cars

Faster re-charge time
Increased mileage range on a charge
Higher convenience level, similar to gas powered cars, more affordable
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