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How to Properly Use Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries, due to their excellent electrochemical properties, have become increasingly popular energy storage and conversion devices, suitable for a wide range of market applications from small to medium and large scales. Let's discuss the correct use of lithium-ion batteries, particularly focusing on small-scale applications such as smartphones and laptops.
The working principle of lithium-ion batteries involves charging for energy storage and discharging to convert and release energy. Proper use of lithium-ion batteries involves three main aspects: correct charging, discharging, and maintenance, especially when they are not in use or being charged/discharged.
How to Charge Lithium-Ion Batteries
Know Your Limits to Avoid Overcharging: Lithium-ion batteries have good electrochemical properties but also pose various safety risks if not balanced. Early smartphone manufacturers often emphasized using original chargers (including cables) to protect their interests. Nowadays, with the widespread use of smartphones and laptops, chargers and cables have become standardized, making charging convenient. However, users need to keep their batteries properly powered. Low power won't cause immediate safety issues but can damage the battery structure over time.
Fully Charge, But Not Overcharge: Lithium-ion battery cells are composed of several components. New batteries are fine, but over time, components can degrade, posing overcharging risks. Some typical accidents involving Samsung and Apple were caused by devices being charged overnight while the owners slept.
Avoid Using While Charging: The author has found that phones tend to get hot when playing games while charging. This is because the phone is performing two tasks simultaneously, requiring more energy and causing it to heat up.
How to Properly Discharge Lithium-Ion Batteries
Charge on time to prevent over-discharging. Ordinary phone users may not be aware of the risks of over-discharging since there are no reported safety incidents. Some believe that periodic full discharges are beneficial for battery performance, which is incorrect. Lithium-ion batteries have no memory effect, and there's no need to "deep cycle" them. While theoretically, a full discharge cycle can extend the battery's life, over-discharging can lead to a battery voltage too low to charge correctly, sometimes requiring longer to power on or off devices. These drawbacks can shorten the battery's lifespan, so it's not recommended for smartphone and laptop users to frequently use their devices until they shut down due to low battery.
Proper Maintenance of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Keep them at a suitable temperature to prevent exposure to extreme heat or cold. Lithium-ion batteries usually don't cause safety accidents when idle, and the purpose of routine maintenance is to place them in an appropriate environment to extend their lifespan. One of the design parameters of lithium-ion batteries is suitable temperature. While relatively low temperatures are not a big issue, higher temperatures can reverse the situation, potentially causing safety issues. The idle state we're talking about only relates to normal environments. If lithium-ion batteries are near water or fire, they are already outside the scope of "maintenance." In normal environments, protect them from moisture and heat. Therefore, the appropriate environment for routine maintenance of lithium-ion batteries should be one that is well-ventilated and cool. These principles should be followed regardless of whether the lithium-ion battery is used alone or as a backup in an electrical device.
Among these, the correct charging method is the most crucial for the proper use of lithium-ion batteries. Incorrect charging methods can lead to safety issues, while discharging and routine maintenance only affect the battery's lifespan. Lithium-ion batteries are consumables, and no matter what measures are taken, they will eventually wear out. However, proper practices can delay this aging process.