Lithium-ion batteries are one of the fasting growing and most promising batteries available for use in our technology today. These batteries allow for many of our modern-day technologies to store and use power as well as make some technologies possible that simply would not work with other kinds of batteries. While these batteries are promising for use in various forms of technology, they are not without their disadvantages. Lithium-ion batteries are composed of four different parts, the cathode, the anode, electrolytes, and separators [1]. The anodes and cathodes are a foil like material that is used to pass the electricity through the separator. The anode is made from carbon in the form of graphite. This graphite often comes from mines and
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These metals act as current collectors or electrode backing for the anode and cathode. Both metals are mined throughout the continent of Africa [2]. These strips are compressed and baked to create the anode and cathode strips. The separator and electrolytes are placed in between the anode and cathode. The separator’s purpose is to keep the space between the anode and cathode for the electrolytes and to contain safety precautions for the battery itself. This separator will vary depending on the battery. The electrolytes are lithium-based materials used to withstand and transfer energy between the two parts of the battery. This part of the battery is important not only for storing the electricity but also for preventing thermal runaway and generating too much heat. These parts are combined and sealed together with the wiring and venting needed to create a cell for the battery. These cells can be wired together to create larger battery packs [3]. Lithium-ion batteries are incredible devices that can store large amounts of power for many different technologies in our life, however, they are not without both advantages and …show more content…
Unfortunately, the latter of the two options is the most common decision. [5] The fact that the U.S. Government does not classify lithium batteries as harmful to the environment contributes to the amount of lithium batteries thrown away. However, the batteries do contain large quantities of metals such as cobalt, copper, nickel, and iron, which have been deemed safe for disposal by incineration or landfill in the United States. [5] Unlike alkaline or sealed lead acid batteries, lithium batteries are non-toxic. Therefore, there is no sound environmental reason to explain why their components cannot be recycled as they are all non-toxic and can be reused in many different devices. Although the United States may be lenient on battery recycling, the European Union has a completely different stance. [5] One of the current laws in place requires that battery vendors recycle 25% of all the batteries they produce. Although, this law doesn’t explicitly require battery manufacturers to re-evaluate their manufacturing processes it does require them to evaluate their ability to recycle the batteries they produce to make sure that they are doing so at the optimum level or they will suffer economic losses. Even though, in this day and age, it may be cheaper to buy raw materials rather than recycle used ones the future will have to include more recycling or the world’s consumption will
These metals act as current collectors or electrode backing for the anode and cathode. Both metals are mined throughout the continent of Africa [2]. These strips are compressed and baked to create the anode and cathode strips. The separator and electrolytes are placed in between the anode and cathode. The separator’s purpose is to keep the space between the anode and cathode for the electrolytes and to contain safety precautions for the battery itself. This separator will vary depending on the battery. The electrolytes are lithium-based materials used to withstand and transfer energy between the two parts of the battery. This part of the battery is important not only for storing the electricity but also for preventing thermal runaway and generating too much heat. These parts are combined and sealed together with the wiring and venting needed to create a cell for the battery. These cells can be wired together to create larger battery packs [3]. Lithium-ion batteries are incredible devices that can store large amounts of power for many different technologies in our life, however, they are not without both advantages and …show more content…
Unfortunately, the latter of the two options is the most common decision. [5] The fact that the U.S. Government does not classify lithium batteries as harmful to the environment contributes to the amount of lithium batteries thrown away. However, the batteries do contain large quantities of metals such as cobalt, copper, nickel, and iron, which have been deemed safe for disposal by incineration or landfill in the United States. [5] Unlike alkaline or sealed lead acid batteries, lithium batteries are non-toxic. Therefore, there is no sound environmental reason to explain why their components cannot be recycled as they are all non-toxic and can be reused in many different devices. Although the United States may be lenient on battery recycling, the European Union has a completely different stance. [5] One of the current laws in place requires that battery vendors recycle 25% of all the batteries they produce. Although, this law doesn’t explicitly require battery manufacturers to re-evaluate their manufacturing processes it does require them to evaluate their ability to recycle the batteries they produce to make sure that they are doing so at the optimum level or they will suffer economic losses. Even though, in this day and age, it may be cheaper to buy raw materials rather than recycle used ones the future will have to include more recycling or the world’s consumption will