In our drive to get granuloseer, increased baron and thirster use of our Mobile River accessories like cell phones, laptops, recording and play-back devices, the unsung hero has to be the subordinate battery. In less than 40 geezerhood the market has been taken over almost solely by the lithium-ion battery — used in everything from desktop computers and cameras to ultra-thin cameras and recorders.
Just a 10? ago the norm for powering our mobile world was the nickel-cadmium battery. They were heavy, unwieldy and didn’t keep their power for any wide-eyed use. Sony (SNE 30.15 ↓0.27%) produced the first commercialized lithium-ion battery in 1991 and other manufacturers soon followed behind.
Lithium is a soft silver-white metal extracted from Spodumene, and ore found in North America, Brazil, Spain, Africa, Argentina and Russia. Other sources admit Lepidolite (found in Canada and Africa) and Petalite (found in Africa and Sweden).
now lithium-ion has become the Holy Grail for developers of faster, lighter, more sophisticated mobile devices. Its success is based on the fact that lithium is an extremely light metal and has tremendous electro-chemical potential. Moreover, it provides the largest energy density for its free weight, usually twice that of the accepted nickel-cadmium battery. Its high voltage of 3.6 allows economical, space-saving battery pack designs for applications such as cell phones and television receiver cameras.
Its low maintenance is a bonus, and they cause little harm to the environment when disposed. But it is a delicate metal and requires a protection circuit built into each application to maintain safe march.
Lithium Ion is the fastest growing battery organisation, especially useful where high energy density and light weight are important. It’s more expensive than other battery systems, but as research continues into capabilities, the uses will increase and the costs will likely be reduced.
approaching right behind is the Lithium Ion Polymer, a possibly lower cost version of the Lithium Ion systems. Its main benefits are its ability to fit into extremely slim housings (such as a cell phone or camera) and allows for simpler packaging than its predecessor. Apple (AAPL 263.8 ↑1.14%) computers have used Lithium –Polymer batteries in their end merchandise – the iPad, promising 9 to 10 hours of battery life for applications on the hugely successful mini-computer.
Computerized games, laptops, cell phones, digital cameras, video and levelheaded recorders all use lithium-ion or lithium-polymer power. As consumers demand lighter, faster, more readily accessible entropy the demand for better, lighter, more powerful batteries will increase exponentially. As long as there is a secure and steady supply of this lightweight metal we can look forward to increased demand for lithium in our mobile world.
Monika Forberger
www.lithium-stocks.net Writer
