There are many ways to classify lithium batteries. The following are several common classification methods and their corresponding types of lithium batteries:
1. Classification by battery type
Lithium metal battery
Features: Use lithium metal or its alloy as the negative electrode material, manganese dioxide, etc. as the positive electrode material, and use non-aqueous electrolyte solution.
Use: Lithium metal batteries are mostly primary batteries (non-rechargeable). Due to safety and other issues, they are now rarely used in the field of daily consumer products.
Lithium-ion battery
Features: Use lithium alloy metal oxide as the positive electrode material (such as lithium iron phosphate, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium manganese oxide, ternary materials, etc.), graphite as the negative electrode material, and non-aqueous electrolyte. Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable.
Use: Widely used in consumer electronic products such as mobile phones and laptops, as well as electric vehicles, energy storage systems and other fields.
2. Classification by positive electrode material
Lithium cobalt oxide battery (LCO)
Features: The positive electrode material is lithium cobalt oxide, which has a high energy density and a long life.
Use: It has been widely used in consumer electronic devices such as MP3, mobile phones, and laptops. However, due to the instability and environmental issues of lithium cobalt oxide materials, as well as relatively poor safety, it is not suitable for power batteries.
Ternary material lithium battery (NCM/NCA)
Features: The positive electrode material is a ternary polymer of nickel, cobalt, and manganese (or aluminum), which has the characteristics of high energy density, high capacity, low internal resistance, and excellent charge and discharge performance.
Application: Widely used in electric vehicles, drones and other fields with high requirements for endurance.
Lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP)
Features: The positive electrode material is lithium iron phosphate, with low production cost, good safety performance, excellent high temperature resistance, long life, and support for fast charging and discharging.
Application: Widely used in electric forklifts, electric golf carts, sightseeing cars, electric patrol cars, photovoltaic energy storage and other fields. BYD blade battery uses lithium iron phosphate battery technology.
Lithium manganese oxide battery (LMO)
Features: The positive electrode material is lithium manganese oxide, which has the characteristics of high safety and high discharge performance.
Application: Widely used in electric vehicles, digital cameras and other fields.
3. Classification by battery shape
Cylindrical lithium battery
Features: The battery shape is cylindrical, usually packaged in a metal shell, with a diameter between 18-26mm and a length between 65-150mm.
Use: Widely used in high-intensity flashlights, electric toys, power banks, power cars and other fields. Common models include 18650 lithium batteries, 21700 lithium batteries, etc.
Square lithium battery
Features: The battery shape is square box-shaped, and the shell is mostly made of aluminum alloy, stainless steel and other materials.
Use: Widely used in mobile phones, electric vehicles, energy storage and other fields. The structure of square batteries is relatively simple, and the protection of the battery cell is better than that of soft-pack batteries. The safety of the battery cell has also been greatly improved compared to cylindrical batteries.
Soft-pack battery (polymer lithium-ion battery)
Features: It uses aluminum-plastic composite film as the shell material, which has the characteristics of ultra-thinness and ultra-lightness, and has higher safety performance.
Use: Widely used in small portable devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and electronic dictionaries.
4. Classification by packaging form
Wound battery
Features: The battery cell is made by winding process, with high production efficiency.
Use: Widely used in consumer electronic products such as mobile phones and laptops.
Laminated battery
Features: The battery cell is made by laminating process, with high energy density and low internal resistance.
Use: Gradually applied to electric vehicles and other fields, such as BYD blade battery using laminating process.
5. Classification by electrolyte material
Liquid lithium-ion battery
Features: Use liquid electrolyte, the electrolyte is organic solvent + lithium salt.
Use: Currently, most lithium-ion batteries on the market use liquid electrolyte.
Polymer lithium-ion battery
Features: Use solid polymer electrolyte, which can be "dry" or "colloidal".
Use: Widely used in products that pursue lightness and portability, such as tablets, drones, smart watches, etc.
Solid-state battery
Features: Both electrodes and electrolytes are solid, with high safety.
Use: It is still in the research and development stage and is expected to be used in electric vehicles and other fields in the future.
6. Classification by application scenario
3C lithium battery
Features: high energy density and low consistency.
Use: Mainly used in consumer electronic products such as mobile phones and laptops.
Power lithium battery
Features: small internal resistance, fast charging and discharging speed, high energy density.
Use: Mainly used in electric vehicles, electric bicycles and other fields.
Energy storage lithium battery
Features: high safety and moderate energy density.
Use: Mainly used in energy storage power stations, photovoltaic energy storage and other fields.
7. Other special types of lithium batteries
Clip lithium battery
Features: It is composed of lithium-ion batteries, control circuits, and mechanical springs, which is small and portable.
Use: Suitable for small electronic devices such as smart watches.
Special-shaped battery
Features: Irregular shape, can be customized according to product requirements.
Use: Usually used in some electronic products with special requirements, such as Bluetooth headsets, wearable devices, ultra-thin mobile phones, etc.
In summary, there are various ways to classify lithium batteries, and each type has its unique advantages and applicable scenarios. In practical applications, it is necessary to select the appropriate lithium battery type based on specific needs and conditions.