Introduction to Lithium Batteries

Lithium battery "refers to a type of battery that uses lithium metal or lithium alloy as the negative electrode material and non aqueous electrolyte solution. Lithium metal batteries were first proposed and studied by Gilbert N. Lewis in 1912. In the 1970s, M S. Whittingham proposed and began researching lithium-ion batteries. Due to the highly reactive chemical properties of lithium metal, the processing, preservation, and use of lithium metal have high environmental requirements. With the development of science and technology, lithium batteries have now become the mainstream.

Lithium batteries can be roughly divided into two categories: lithium metal batteries and lithium-ion batteries. Lithium ion batteries do not contain metallic lithium and are rechargeable. The fifth generation product of rechargeable batteries, lithium metal batteries, was born in 1996. Their safety, specific capacity, self discharge rate, and cost-effectiveness are all superior to lithium-ion batteries. Due to its own high-tech requirements, only a few companies in a few countries are currently producing this type of lithium metal battery. 

In October 2018, Professor Liang Jiajie and Professor Chen Yongsheng from Nankai University collaborated with Lai Chao from Jiangsu Normal University to successfully prepare a three-dimensional porous graphene carrier, which can achieve ultra-high speed battery charging and is expected to significantly extend the "lifespan" of lithium batteries.