Intro
Main Contents
With the continuous increase in energy demand, the development of battery technology has become crucial. Among the many types of batteries, blade batteries and lipo batteries are two new types of batteries that have attracted much attention. This article will compare blade batteries and lipo batteries, and introduce their differences in performance and application.
LiPo Battery VS Blade Battery
Structure
There are significant differences in battery structure between blade batteries and polymer lithium batteries. Below we will detail their structural characteristics:
Blade battery structure:
The blade battery uses an ultra-thin positive and negative electrode stacking design to increase the battery’s contact area and current transmission efficiency. Specifically, the blade battery consists of the following components: the positive electrode is typically made of lithium metal or other high-capacity materials with high chemical reactivity. The negative electrode is typically made of materials such as lithium cobalt oxide or lithium iron phosphate that can embed or release lithium ions. The separator in the blade battery is located between the positive and negative electrodes and acts to isolate and prevent short circuits, typically made of polymer materials. The electrolyte is a solution containing lithium salts that provides the medium for ion transport. It is infused between the positive and negative electrodes, allowing lithium ions to migrate between the two poles.
Polymer lithium batteries are a type of lithium-ion battery that uses polymer or polymer composite materials as the positive electrode material and has a more special structure. The main components include: the positive electrode material typically uses a polymer or polymer composite material, such as polymer lithium ion conductors (PLiON). The negative electrode material is usually graphite, which has good ability to embed and release lithium ions. The polymer lithium battery uses a solid-state electrolyte instead of a traditional liquid electrolyte. The solid-state electrolyte can be a polymer-based or ceramic-based material that provides the ion transport path. The separator in the polymer lithium battery is similar to that in the blade battery, used to prevent direct contact between the positive and negative electrodes.
In short, there are significant differences in battery structure between blade batteries and polymer lithium batteries. The blade battery uses an ultra-thin stacking design for positive and negative electrodes, while the polymer lithium battery uses polymer or polymer composite materials as the positive electrode and a solid-state electrolyte. These different structural designs result in differences in performance and application.
Working Principle
There are also significant differences in the working principles of blade batteries and polymer lithium batteries. Blade batteries use the mechanism of lithium ion insertion/extraction, while polymer lithium batteries use the migration of lithium ions between positive and negative electrodes. These different working principles determine the differences in their performance and application. The following will describe their working principles in detail:
Blade Batteries
Blade batteries use the mechanism of lithium ion insertion/extraction to achieve energy storage and release. Specifically, during charging, lithium ions in the anode material are oxidized, releasing electrons, which are transmitted to the cathode through a conductive agent. At the same time, lithium ions in the cathode material are embedded in the anode. During discharge, a closed circuit of electron flow is formed between the positive and negative electrodes, and electrons flow from the negative electrode to the positive electrode. Lithium ions in the positive electrode begin to be extracted, move towards the negative electrode, and react with the negative electrode material, releasing electrons. This electron flow generates current, which can be used for power supply. The charging and discharging cycle of blade batteries can be repeated, and the insertion and extraction of lithium ions between positive and negative electrodes achieve energy storage and release.
Polymer Lithium Batteries
Polymer lithium batteries use the migration of lithium ions between positive and negative electrodes to achieve energy storage and release. During charging, an external power source provides current, causing electrons to flow from the positive electrode to the negative electrode, while lithium ions in the positive electrode material are oxidized, releasing electrons. These lithium ions will migrate and embed into the negative electrode material through a solid-state electrolyte between the positive and negative electrodes. During discharge, lithium ions begin to be extracted from the negative electrode material and are transferred to the positive electrode material through the solid-state electrolyte. In this process, lithium ions in the positive electrode material are reduced, releasing electrons, forming a current to supply the external circuit. Similarly, the charging and discharging cycle of polymer lithium batteries can be repeated, and the migration of lithium ions between positive and negative electrodes achieves energy storage and release.
Performance–Energy Density
Blade batteries usually have higher energy density and can store more energy compared to lipo batteries, which have relatively lower energy density. This is because blade batteries adopt an ultra-thin design for the positive and negative electrode sheets, which increases the contact area and current transmission efficiency of the battery, thereby increasing its energy storage capacity. Additionally, the positive and negative electrode materials used in blade batteries often have high-capacity characteristics, which can achieve higher energy density.
Performance–Charging & Discharging Rate
Blade batteries have advantages in fast charging and discharging, achieving faster charging and discharging rates. lipo batteries may experience capacity attenuation during high-rate charging and discharging. This is because blade batteries use ultra-thin positive and negative electrodes, increasing the surface area of the battery and thereby increasing the ionization rate during charging. In addition, the positive and negative electrode materials commonly used in blade batteries have a fast ion transfer rate, which helps to improve the charging rate. Polymer lithium batteries use solid-state electrolytes, which have a slower ion transfer rate than liquid-state electrolytes, limiting the charging rate. Although solid-state electrolytes can improve the safety and stability of the battery, the charging rate is somewhat limited.
It should be noted that although the charging rate of polymer lithium batteries is relatively slow, researchers have been working to improve the charging performance of polymer lithium batteries with the continuous advancement of technology. They have gradually increased the charging rate of polymer lithium batteries by optimizing the electrolyte formula, improving the positive and negative electrode materials, and other means.
Therefore, in practical applications, if a higher charging rate is required, blade batteries may be more suitable. Polymer lithium batteries are more suitable for applications with relatively low charging rate requirements, such as portable devices and electric vehicles. Overall, it is important to choose the appropriate battery type according to specific needs.
Performance–Cycle Life
Due to its special stacked structure, blade batteries have better cycle life compared to lipo batteries, which have a relatively shorter cycle life. This is because the ultra-thin positive and negative electrode design of blade batteries reduces stress accumulation during charging and discharging, thereby reducing material loss and decay. In addition, the positive and negative electrode materials used in blade batteries often have better cycle stability, enabling them to maintain high capacity and performance during repeated charging and discharging cycles.
Performance–Safety
lipo batteries have better safety performance due to the use of solid electrolytes. However, blade batteries may have potential safety hazards in some situations.
Application
Blade batteries are usually suitable for applications with high power requirements. Due to their high energy density and charging rate, blade batteries are often used in devices that require large amounts of instantaneous discharge, such as drones, power tools, and electric vehicles. The ultra-thin design of blade batteries allows them to be flexibly installed in various space-restricted devices, providing a continuous and stable power source.
Polymer lithium batteries are suitable for applications with high requirements for volume and weight. The use of solid-state electrolytes and flexible packaging materials makes polymer lithium batteries more compact and lightweight. Therefore, polymer lithium batteries are often used in portable devices such as smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. Its high energy density and low self-discharge rate also make polymer lithium batteries an ideal choice for electronic consumer products.
Conclusion
There are obvious differences between blade batteries and lipo batteries in terms of structure, working principle, performance, and application. Blade batteries have high energy density and fast charging characteristics, suitable for fields that require high energy density and charging rate. On the other hand, lipo batteries have better safety performance and a wide range of applications. With the development of technology, both types of batteries will play important roles in their respective fields and promote the further development of energy storage technology.
