In today’s society, which is increasingly dependent on mobile devices and energy, batteries are critical. lithium ion vs lithium polymer battery are the most popular technologies that have revolutionized portable electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage. They each have unique functions and uses.
So, what’s the difference? This article will compare lithium ion vs lithium polymer battery in depth to help you better understand them.
Table of Contents
Development History of Lithium ion vs Lithium Polymer Battery
lithium ion
Although there were attempts to use lithium-ion as early as the 1960s, it was not until 1974 that M. Stanley Whittingham made a major breakthrough. He uses titanium disulfide as the cathode and lithium aluminum as the anode, which gives the battery a high energy density and allows it to be recharged. Unfortunately, these materials are difficult to use and raise a lot of safety issues.
In 1980, John B. Goodenough replaced titanium disulfide with lithium cobalt oxide as the cathode, which unexpectedly doubled the energy density of the battery. Five years later, Akira Yoshino developed a safer and more stable method to manufacture the first lithium-ion prototype battery.
Through these efforts, the trio won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 for their contributions to the invention of lithium-ion. Today, lithium-ion batteries are widely used in products such as flashlights, mobile power supplies and power tools.
Lithium Polymer Battery
Lithium-polymer battery were invented around the same time as lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries. In 1991, SONY produced the first commercial lithium polymer battery, which was a major breakthrough in lithium polymer battery. After that, more and more people began to experiment with various shapes of lithium polymer batteries, which is why they are now used in various products such as watches, headphones and so on.
What is a Lithium-ion?
Lithium-ion (Li-ion battery) is an advanced modern battery with high-tech characteristics. It is not only rechargeable, but also has a high energy density. Unlike other batteries, it has no memory effect and a low self-discharge rate.
A lithium-ion is unique in that it contains lithium ions, which move back and forth between the two electrodes during charging and discharging. When charging, lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode, filling the anode with lithium ions. When discharging, the process is reversed. The cathode is composed of a lithium compound and the anode is a carbon layer compound, usually graphite.
Such batteries are widely used in a variety of electrical equipment and electric vehicles, and are also very popular in the military and aerospace fields.
What are The Advantages and Disadvantages of Lithium-ion?
Lithium-ion are not suitable for all devices, and they have both advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantage
High-energy density
The energy density of lithium-ion is quite high, so they are widely used in 3C products, electric vehicles, energy storage systems and other fields. In these applications, small battery size and large capacity are required. Therefore, lithium-ion batteries with high energy density are most suitable for the efficient operation of such devices.
Low self-discharge rate
Lithium-ion have a lower self-discharge rate than other rechargeable batteries, only about 3.5% per month. When stored in an unused state, there is almost no chemical reaction inside and it is very stable. This makes them superior to other rechargeable batteries.
Maintenance-free
Lithium-ion do not require regular acid addition, nor do they risk bloating due to improper charging, as lead-acid maintenance-free batteries do. It can be truly maintenance-free, making daily use easier and more convenient. At the same time, the cost of battery maintenance management is eliminated, making lithium batteries more cost-effective.
Various specificatio
Lithium-ion have a variety of specifications, suitable for different application scenarios, each specification can meet the needs of specific products, providing a rich choice.
No memory effect
Lithium-ion has no memory effect, can be used with the charge, the ideal state is 20%-80% of shallow shallow charge, which is conducive to extending the battery life.
Disadvantage
Need to protect
Lithium-ion are better than other batteries on the market in terms of fast charging, good performance and long battery life, but if not properly managed, it is easy to overcharge and thermal runaway, causing safety accidents, but the existence of battery management system (BMS) can solve the problem of thermal runaway, thermal management and overheating protection can be carried out.
Transport service security
Many airlines have strict restrictions on carrying lithium-ion on planes, so a lot of shipping usually takes place by ship, which adds to the difficulty.
High cost
Lithium-ion are 40% more expensive than other types of batteries, but with growing demand and more technological revolutions in battery technology, we will undoubtedly see more affordable lithium-ion batteries soon. In addition, although the upfront cost is significantly higher than that of lead-acid batteries, the overall long-term cost is lower due to their maintenance-free and long cycle life, making them cost-effective in the long run.
What is a Lithium Polymer Battery?
Lithium polymer batteries, also known as soft-pack batteries, are a type of rechargeable battery. It is similar to lithium-ion batteries, but it uses polymer, dry solid, and gel electrolytes instead of typical liquid electrolytes. Lithium polymer batteries have a higher energy density than other lithium batteries and are particularly suitable for use in devices that have strict weight requirements, such as radio-controlled aircraft.
What are The Advantages and Disadvantages of Lithium Polymer Battery?
Like lithium-ion, lithium-polymer battery have some advantages and disadvantages.
Advantage
High-energy density
Lithium-polymer battery have twice the energy density of other batteries. So it can provide continuous power for devices that require high currents.
No memory effect
Lithium polymer battery have no memory effect and can be used with charge without affecting the battery capacity.
Good safety performance
The polymer lithium battery uses aluminum-plastic flexible packaging, which is different from the metal shell of the liquid battery, and due to the use of polymer materials, the battery will not catch fire and explode, and the battery itself has enough safety. Even if there is a problem, it will only puff up at most, and not explode as easily as liquid batteries.
Maintenance free
Lithium polymer battery do not require as much maintenance as other batteries, and this battery is very painless and easy to use.
Low internal resistance
Due to the use of special cells, the internal resistance of lithium polymer battery is smaller than that of general liquid batteries, reducing the self-discharge rate, and supporting large current discharge, which is very suitable for remote control models and is an ideal choice to replace nickel-metal hydride batteries.
Better discharge characteristics
Lithium polymer battery use gel electrolytes, which have smoother discharge characteristics and higher discharge platforms than liquid electrolytes.
More flexible
Lithium polymer battery can be made into different shapes and sizes according to different needs to meet the requirements of different devices.
Disadvantage
Overheating
Lithium polymer battery can easily overheat and damage, especially at high voltages, which can affect their performance and longevity.
Fragile
Such batteries are fragile and require circuit protection to operate safely. Overcharging or overdischarging can destroy the reversibility of the chemicals inside the battery, seriously affecting its performance.
Need security mechanism
Lithium polymer battery also need some kind of safety mechanism to reduce internal pressure and voltage. The downside is that it adds weight to the battery.
Poor versatility
Because the polymer lithium battery can increase or decrease the thickness of the cell according to actual needs, its versatility is poor, which is also the disadvantage of sensitive design.
How Long Will Lithium Polymer Batteries Last?
Lithium polymer battery have a long service life. It lasts about 900 to 1,500 charge cycles from full charge to exhaustion to full charge again.
Do Lithium-Polymer Battery Last Longer Than Lithium-ion?
When comparing the performance of the two, it will inevitably involve the battery life of llithium ion vs lithium polymer battery, which is an important part of the comparison. As for lithium-ion, if they are charged and discharged once a day on average, they can be used about 4,000 times (4000/365≈10.96). Obviously, lithium-ion battery last longer than lithium-polymer battery. It doesn’t have any memory effect, so you can charge it when you need it. Doing so will also ultimately extend its overall service life.
Which is Better, Lithium ion VS Lithium Polymer Battery?
When you compare lithium ion vs lithium polymer battery, you may wonder which is better. Both modern battery technologies have advantages and disadvantages. Lithium-ion have a higher energy density, no memory effect, and a lower cost. However, they may be unstable or even explode under high temperatures or pressures.
Lithium polymer battery, on the other hand, are lighter and more flexible. Because their structure is solid and dry, the risk of leakage is low. However, they are more expensive than lithium-ion, have a lower energy density, and have a shorter lifetime. In recent years, with the advancement of technology, lithium-ion using gel electrolytes have solved some safety problems, making them safer and more reliable.
What is The Difference Between Lithium-ion and Lithium-Polymer ?
When it comes to lithium-polymer batteries and lithium-ion batteries, they are different in many ways.
Electrolyte material
Lithium-ion use a liquid or gel-like electrolyte that flows between the anode and cathode of the battery, while lithium-polymer battery use a solid or colloidal polymer electrolyte, which allows it to be designed to be thinner, more flexible, and in a variety of shapes.
Power delivery
Lithium-ion are generally capable of producing higher power, which makes them more suitable in applications that require high energy output.
Cost aspect
Lithium-ion are more cost-effective than lithium-polymer batteries. Lithium-ion batteries typically cost between $30 and $650 each, while lithium-polymer battery cost between $100 and $3,300 each, depending on the quality and voltage requirements of the battery.
Volumetric aspect
Lithium polymer battery may be reduced relative to standard lithium-ion. This means that for the same volume, lithium-ion may store more energy.
Application area
Lithium-ion are widely used in UPS systems, electric vehicles, solar energy storage and other fields, but also for portable devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras and so on. Lithium polymer battery are more commonly found in some products that require lightweight design and small power output, such as car alarm systems, Bluetooth headsets, and so on.
In general, which battery to choose depends on the specific application needs, as well as the importance of cost, power and design flexibility.
Different Application Scenarios Choose Lithium ion VS Lithium Polymer Battery?
When comparing Lithium ion VS Lithium Polymer Battery, the type of battery you want to choose depends on the different types of application scenarios and user preferences. If you want a battery with an adequate power supply, then lithium polymer batteries will be the ideal choice for you. However, if you want longer power, lithium-ion battery with better battery cycles will be the perfect choice for you.
Conclusion
While lithium ion vs lithium polymer battery share the same chemical basis to provide a reliable portable power solution, they have unique characteristics that make them suitable for different applications. If you have any more specific lithium ion questions or would like to learn more about which application is better for you, please contact our GycxSolar battery Technology team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: lithium-ion vs lithium-polymer battery?
The choice depends on the specific requirements of the device or application; Lithium-ion provide stability and energy density, while lithium-polymer battery provide flexibility in shape and size.
Do lithium-ion batteries last longer than lithium-polymer batteries?
In general, lithium-ion tend to last longer than lithium-polymer battery, especially under similar conditions of use and charging.
How many times can a lithium polymer battery be recharged?
A well-maintained lithium-polymer battery can typically withstand about 300 to 500 charge cycles before a significant loss of capacity occurs, but the actual lifespan depends on usage patterns and maintenance.
