The Development of Rechargeable Batteries - Book Report/Review Example

The Development Of Rechargeable Batteries Introduction The consumption and demand for energy has been on the rise since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Energy has been a basic need for both households and industrial operations. Apart from all other sources and modes of energy, electric energy has been unique and exceptional as it assists facilitating operations in industries as well as domestic setup. However, technological advancements have revolutionized the field of energy by introducing devices that help in storage and conversion of energy for future and efficient use. One such energy backup devices is an electrical battery. The battery was first designed 1800 by a scientist called Alessandro Volta (Fritzsche and Schwartz 2008, 227.) Since then, there have been sporadic and spontaneous developments in the battery development technology as the device continue to gain popularity among consumers. Rechargeable Batteries Rechargeable batteries at times referred to as secondary, storage or accumulator batteries are electrical devices capable of storing energy in chemical form and perform conversion of the same energy into electrical form by means of chemical reactions. Secondary batteries exist alongside primary batteries and are more advantageous than primary batteries in that chemical reaction that occur in the secondary batteries are easily reversible. The chemical reactions that trigger transformation of energy from chemical state to electrical state is usually accomplished by special features called cells (Larminie and Lowry, 2003, 23). Secondary batteries in the views of Gates Energy Products (1998, 12) comprises of various parts as highlighted below; 1) Negative cell electrode (anode), which supplies electrons to the outer system when oxidized at the time of discharge (Gates Energy Products 1998, 12). 2) Positive electrodes (cathode), which receives electrons from the outer system when reduced during discharge of the battery. 3) Electrolyte, which is a chemical solution that ensures exchange of ions between the anode and the cathode. Electrolytes in the observation of Gates Energy Products (1998, 12) can either be alkaline solution that releases negative ions (hydroxide ions) or acidic that releases anions (hydrogen ions), all as mediums of electric conduction. 4) Separator, which functions to set apart positive and negative electrodes and ensure that the two do not come into contact so as to avoid internal electrocution that may discharge or spoil the battery system. According to Gates Energy Products (1998, 12), electrical batteries can be made up of lead cell or nickel-cadmium cells. From the clarifications of Gates Energy Products (1998, 12), it is evident that nickel oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) is the active element on the positive electrode of a nickel-cadmium battery, while lead oxide (PbO2) plays the same role on the positive electrode of lead acid batteries. Gates Energy Products (1998, 12) further reckons that acidic electrolytes (sulfuric acid mixed with water) are preferably used in the lead battery and that reaction leads to creation of positive ions at the negative electrode, which are then absorbed by the positive electrode. Nickel-cadmium batteries on the other hand uses alkaline electrolyte usually potassium hydroxide mixed with water reaction occurs resulting to development of negative ions on the positive electrode, which are then absorbed by negative electrode. Contributing on the differences regarding separators, Gates Energy Products (1998, 13) point that nickel-cadmium batteries have porous plastic separators as the lead acid batteries have porous glass fibers. Lead Acid Batteries As pointed by Larminie and Lowry (2003, 30), lead acid battery is the mostly known electric battery bearing its expanse use in vehicle engines. Apart from common use of rechargeable lead acid batteries in vehicle engines, the batteries are also very popular in domestic and industrial appliances. Energy is usually released when reaction occur between the dilute sulfuric acid and lead electrodes. Larminie and Lowry (2003, 30) reveals that the reasons behind enormous use of the lead acid battery relies on the low costs of basic components like plastic cover, lead electrodes and the sulfuric acid. Also, lead acid batteries are preferred due to the high electric voltage of 2V produced by each cell. In addition, lead electric batteries are regarded highly efficient as can be demonstrated by reduced internal resistance. Nickel-Cadmium Batteries As mentioned by Larminie and Lowry (2003, 36), nickel-cadmium batteries are particularly competitive substitute and, which came after lead acid batteries. Invention of the nickel-cadmium battery ensured that its energy doubled that of the previous lead acid battery. Just as the lead acid battery, nickel-cadmium battery was also designed to electric vehicles. As mentioned before, nickel-cadmium batteries use alkaline electrolytes, which unlike in lead acid battery become concentrated upon discharge of the battery. Larminie and Lowry (2003, 36) unveils that apart from its initial high cost of purchase, nickel-cadmium battery has a lot of advantages over the lead acid battery. First, nickel-cadmium battery has a long life cycle and releases high power than does lead acid accumulator. Unlike lead acid accumulator that functions well under high temperatures, nickel-cadmium batteries are effective under a wide range of temperature (-40 to 85) degree Celsius. Also, nickel-cadmium batteries can be stored for relatively long period and have retard self discharge. Recharging nickel-cadmium battery is also very easy as the process takes short time for the system to fully charge. Despite the advantages of nickel-cadmium, Larminie and Lowry (2003, 36) discuss that compared to lead, cadmium is highly pollutant and that the power release by each cell estimates to 1.2V, thus the high cost compared to lead acid accumulators. Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries According to Larminie and Lowry (2003, 38), nickel metal hydride battery is an advanced form of the nickel-cadmium battery and works almost the same as the latter. The big difference as noticed by Fritzsche and Schwartz (2008, 239) is that unlike nickel-cadmium that uses cadmium metal as the negative electrode, nickel metal hydride battery uses hydride metal. Chemical reaction that leads to discharge in this kind of battery results to conversion of positive electrode into nickel hydroxide. Nickel metal hydride batteries also releases high energy capacity and recharges at a faster rate than the nickel-cadmium batteries. Larminie and Lowry (2003, 40) also note that the electrolyte composition of the nickel metal hydride battery does not change irrespective of charging or discharging. Lithium Batteries Lithium rechargeable cells are late arrival types of rechargeable batteries credited for higher energy density than the initial types of rechargeable batteries. Larminie and Lowry (2003, 44), linger that lithium rechargeable batteries have gained popularity as they are mainly used in special and expensive devices like small computers and mobile phones. In creating the difference between lithium batteries and other rechargeable batteries, Larminie and Lowry (2003, 45) disclose that the former uses lithium metal as negative electrode and a transition metal intercalation oxide as the positive electrode. Reactive elements in this kind of a battery involve lithium reacting with the metal oxide to produce lithium oxide that releases energy. Movement of electrons between the two electrodes is usually spurred by the lithium ions. In spites of the pros attached to lithium batteries, there has been challenging problem of low performance believed to be the cause of using lithium metal as negative electrode in such a system (Megahed, Barnett & Xie 1995, 22). Lithium Ion Battery As reported by Larminie and Lowry (2003, 45), lithium ion battery was an integration of the problematic lithium battery. Lithium ion battery was designed to use either organic or solid polymer as the main electrolyte. The positive electrode of a lithium ion battery is made of lithiated transition metal oxide, while the negative electrode is made of lithiated carbon (Larminie and Lowry 2003, 45). Energy results from the reaction between lithium metal oxide and lithium carbon forming lithium metal oxide and carbon that are the final electrical energy. Charging such type of batteries requires special chargers estimated at the voltage of the specific battery. It is also important to note that lithium ion batteries are highly sensitive to overcharge and can easily explode. Thus, voltage regulation is vital for safety and duration of the battery. Ozawa (2009, 150) extend praise for the lithium ion batteries considering their capabilities to produce energy tripling that of lead acid accumulators. Metal Air Batteries Metal air batteries mark the very latest development in production of rechargeable batteries. Recharging such batteries as argued by Larminie and Lowry (2003, 46) does not involve reversing of current as in other batteries. In this type of rechargeable battery, metal electrodes are the ones that are changed with new ones as the used ones are returned to manufacturing plants for reprocess. The electrodes in this case act as fuels that are used and renewed. The electrolyte used in such kind of batteries also requires subsequent change. Larminie and Lowry (2003, 46) indicate that metal air batteries mark the real driving force of electric cars as it results to no noise and emissions. As indicated by Larminie and Lowry (2003, 46), metal air batteries have only undergone successful production by use of aluminum and zinc metals. Other special developments in rechargeable batteries In attempts to reduce bulkiness of batteries carried by military personnel during their war missions, scientists have come up with what can be described as smart innovation of turning military clothes into rechargeable batteries (Science Daily 2010). To arrive in this mileage development, scientists use common virus to make materials with high performance and rechargeable lithium ion batteries that can be woven in military clothes to ensure light and portable power electric devices used by soldiers in operation. Clothe woven batteries are confirmed but scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology as the most efficient and convenient source of power for smart phones, and other high-tech gadgets used by military. Science Daily (2010) reveals that these batteries release electrical energy through chemical reaction that converts chemical energy into electrical energy. The reaction takes place between anode and cathode that are separated by electrolyte. The cathode used in such type of batteries is made from iron-fluoride. The virus used in this battery is called M13 bacteriophage, which in the reports of Science Daily (2010) has an outer coat made of protein covering an inner core made of genes. The use M13 bacteriophage has received great accolades as since it is environmental friendly and causes no harm to human beings. Conclusion Technological advancement has been the main driving force in all the developments in the rechargeable battery. Rechargeable batteries are made of chemicals and solid substances that ensure storage of energy in chemical form. Reaction between the chemical solution (electrolyte) and electrodes mark the point of conversion of the stored chemical energy into usable electrical energy. Rechargeable batteries have been greatly used to run vehicle engines with great concentration laid on the electrically powered cars. Technological innovations have seen development of rechargeable batteries along consecutive generations starting from the lead acid accumulators, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, lithium batteries, lithium ion batteries and metal air batteries. The latest and probably shocking discovery is the use of virus and iron-fluoride to manufacture rechargeable, light and portable batteries woven in the clothes to particularly provide armies with all time electric energy. References Science Daily (2010), New Generation of Power: Hi-Tech Rechargeable Batteries Developed for Military, viewed on 25 January 2012, . Gates Energy Products 1998, Rechargeable Batteries Applications Handbook, Elsevier Publishers, Newton, MA. Larminie, J, & Lowry, J 2003, Electric vehicle technology explained, John Wiley and Sons Publisher, West Sussex, England. Megahed, S, Barnett, B & Xie, L 1995, Proceedings of the Symposium on Rechargeable Lithium and Lithium-ion Batteries, Electrochemical Society Inc, Pennington, NJ. Ozawa, K 2009, Lithium ion rechargeable batteries, Wiley-VCH Publishers, New York. Fritzsche, H & Schwartz, B 2008, Stanford R. Ovshinsky: the science and technology of an American genius, World Scientific Publishing, Danvers, MA. Read More