LITHIUM BATTERIES, ITS ENERGY STORAGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Lithium Batteries

In simple definition, lithium batteries are a kind of primary batteries that use metallic lithium as
anode. Primary batteries are products whenever a reaction that produces the flow of electrons is
irreversible (Alarco and Talbot, 2015). It means that primary batteries are only good for one time
use only and after usage are up for disposal. In other words, lithium batteries are non-rechargeable
batteries.

Generally, lithium batteries differ from other batteries as they are characterized by high
charge density (long life) and high cost per unit. Lithium batteries can produce voltages from 1.5
V to about 3.7 V depending on the design and chemical compounds used. The most common
lithium cell uses metallic lithium as anode and manganese dioxide as cathode, with salt of lithium
dissolved in an organic solvent.

Lithium batteries can be used in many “long-life, critical devices” such as pacemakers, and
other implantable electronic mechanical devices. These devices use specialized lithium-iodide
batteries designed to last 15 years or more. Otherwise, less critical applications such as toys, the
lithium battery may actually outlast the device.

The first work on lithium batteries first took place in 1912 under Gilbert Newton Lewis
although the first non-rechargeable lithium batteries were released commercially in early 1970s.
Lithium batteries are primary batteries and the challenge of disposing with such batteries was to
find a way to reuse them. The resolve was to recharge the batteries which became essential as the
batteries went larger and frequently replacing them was not commercially and environmentally
feasible. Thus, the birth of rechargeable batteries.

In 1980, Professor John Goodenough, an American physicist, invented a new type of

lithium battery in which the lithium (Li) could migrate through the battery from one electrode to
the other as Li+ ion. Lithium holds great characteristics, being one of the lightest element in the
periodic table and one of the largest electrochemical potentials, the combination produces some of
the highest voltages in the most impact and lightest volumes.

This became the basis for lithium-ion batteries. Lithium is combined with a transition metal
such as cobalt, nickel, manganese, or iron; and oxygen to form the cathode.

Alarco, J. and Talbot, P. (2015). The history and development of batteries. Phys.Org. (Retrieved at
http://phys.org/news/2015-04-history-
batteries.amp&ved=2ahUKEwj_wlyus9PkAhXlylsBHRUHADAQFjAbegQlAxAB&usg=AOvVaw0t0ET
dU_Hthbh2qjmifQDf&ampcf=1 on September 15, 2019).

https://en.wikipeia.org/wiki/Lithium_battery
 LITHIUM BATTERIES, ITS ENERGY STORAGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Environmental Impacts of Lithium Batteries

Extraction of lithium impacts the environment negatively. According to experts, one of the largest
deposits of lithium were stored under the Salar de Uyuni in Northern Chile and Southern Bolivia
as its Andes Mountain contained over two-thirds of the world’s lithium supplies. Global demands
for lithium continually increases, which make its price doubled and expected to keep on rising.
Atacama Desert and Salar de Uyuni needed 500,000 gallons of water to produce just a single ton
of lithium for its dry and arid climate that led to exhaustion of natural resources.
Additionally, extraction of lithium from the ground brings a polluting after-effect in our
environment. This activity requires the use of toxic cocktail of chemicals that are also capable in
infiltrating nearby streams, rivers and water supplies. In fact, in 2016, there was a catastrophe that
occurred in Liqi River in Tibet where the water was contaminated by mining operations that
resulted in thousands of dead fishes and many poisoned cattle and yak. Robust river monitoring
solutions only helped in minimizing the risk of contamination but did not eliminate it completely.
Recently, there was also a report about the affected fishes from the mining operation in Nevada
that extended about 150 miles away.
Researches were called by the environmentalists to discover new and less harmful ways of
powering the batteries necessary to prevent risk and sustain renewable environment. But it has
been hard to look for substitute source which still make the use of lithium.
However, just by little, the existence of lithium-ion batteries helps in lessening the
need to produce more lithium batteries.

N.A.(2018). How Do Lithium Batteries Affect the Environment?. Environmental Technology. (Retrieved at
https://www.envirotech-online.com/news/environmental-laboratory/7/breaking-news/how-do-
lithium-batteries-affect-the-environment/46953 on September 15, 2019).

https://en.wikipeia.org/wiki/Lithium_battery