What Are the Advantages of Lithium Primary Battery？

In a prior article, Battery categories and chemistries: an easy 20-minute primer, we discussed the two battery categories, primary batteries and secondary batteries, with a brief summary of the common cells in each group. We focused on alkaline batteries in our post, Primary battery options: a look at alkaline batteries.

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The fact that primary batteries have an important role that rechargeable batteries cannot meet is often overlooked when we consider the convenience and savings of multiple-use rechargeable batteries. Together with alkalines, the broad family of primary lithium cells dominate primary batteries in both popularity and usage. The use of primary lithium batteries facilitates saving and preserving lives where rechargeability is otherwise impractical or difficult. Life-dependent situations during wartime and life-saving operations like rescue missions serve as examples. Life-sustaining devices such as implantable service pacemakers are powered by lithium batteries. Their low operational requirement of just 10–20 microamperes (µA) allow them to operate 5–10 years before replacement is necessary.

Everyday consumer and industrial needs also commonly rely on primary batteries for convenience and practicality, some exclusively; for example, remote controls, electric keys, children’s common toys, drill bits used in mining, smart meters, and vehicle pressure gauges are often powered by disposable lithium or alkaline cells. Primary lithium cells, often small coin-shaped CR batteries, are used to power motherboard C-MOS of nearly all computers and laptops. It is a good example of a widespread consumer-level, power application where a rechargeable battery would be impractical.

Primary lithium batteries

Lithium batteries describe a family of varying cell chemistries. With the consumer drive toward rechargeables, we often think of lithium cells in terms of the secondary rechargeable types, known as lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Primary lithium cells are made for single-use and disposal and are collectively known as lithium-metal cells. In common with li-ion, they use lithium for the anode (the negative electrode). Their principle difference lies in the material used for the cathode (the positive electrode), the most common of which is manganese, but could also consist of carbon, sulfur, iron, polymer, or other material.

Let’s take a brief look at some of the more common primary lithium-metal batteries.

Lithium-iron disulfide batteries (Li-FeS2)

Matching the 1.5-voltage of alkaline batteries, the lithium-iron disulfide is the newest addition to the primary lithium sub-family and can meet and exceed the needs of any application requiring 1.5-volt AAA or AA alkaline batteries. In most cases, it will outperform the alkaline cell in nearly every way. A lithium AA battery can outlasts an alkaline battery by up to six times when used in a high drain application such as a digital camera. It boasts a higher operating voltage, improved stability, and a lower resistance than standard alkaline cells. Additional advantages of the lithium-iron disulfide battery include low temperature performance and improved leak resistance, and a shelf life of 15 years due to its low self-discharge rate.

While on might be tempted to replace their spent alkaline batteries with this chemistry, as expected with all battery types, there are a few drawbacks. First, they do cost a bit more but still well-affordable. Second, their transport is restricted. Bulk shipments are prohibited by both the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). With few exceptions, most airlines restrict quantities to two grams per passenger carryon. Li-FeS2 batteries contain about 0.98 grams of lithium per cell, which allows for just two spare batteries. These regulations reflect the dangers associated with mishandling of lithium batteries in general. Leaks and explosions can, under certain conditions, result from mismatching a depleted cell, adding a foreign cell, or even inserting it backwards in the battery bay.

Lithium-thionyl chloride batteries (LiSOCI2 or LTC)

Often found in horizontal drilling (i.e., fracking) applications because of its ability to withstand high vibration and heat generated, the lithium-thionyl chloride battery is among the toughest and most powerful lithium-metal batteries available.  LTC batteries have a nominal voltage of 3.6 volts per cell, but like alkalines, their moderately high resistance limits their application to moderate discharge loads; however, the LTCs exceed 500Wh/kg (watt hours per kilogram) in specific energy rating, which means it offers twice the capacity of nearly any rechargeable Li-ion. The runtime of lithium-thionyl chloride batteries are additionally determined by other factors, including load pattern and thermal condition.

Due to safety concerns, LTC batteries are neither found in consumer devices, nor available as a civilian general-purpose battery. Their use is relegated primarily to industrial equipment, medical and sensor applications, and military devices such as mines and fuses. The potent chemistry of LTC batteries calls for handling by trained professionals.

Lithium-manganese dioxide batteries (LiMnO2 or Li-M)

Where LTCs fail to address consumer needs, the similar lithium-manganese dioxide battery is available for civilian use. In fact, it is the most commonly used primary lithium, dominating nearly 80% of the primary lithium battery market and produced by all major battery manufacturers. Among its advantages are its affordability, long service life, low-drain, and ability to also handle high pulse currents.  The Li-M cell runs at 3–3.3V and a specific energy of well over half its LTC counterpart, or 280Wh/kg. It is typically used in sensors, medical devices, photography equipment, as well as watches. The prefix “C” in the common CR battery typically found on computer motherboards and watches, is a designation used to indicate its lithium chemistry. Usually, this coin cell battery is of the lithium-manganese dioxide chemistry.

As with all lithium batteries, extra care must be exercised to protect them from short circuiting, electrical or physical abuse, and heat. Additional regulations apply to their transportation and disposal.

Lithium-sulfur dioxide batteries (LiSo2)

Lithium sulfur dioxide batteries are primarily used in defense applications that require large quantities of this battery, and medical devices such as cardiac defibrillators. It is a cylindrical shaped cell that delivers 2.8 volts in A, C, and D battery formats, and features a 5–10-year expected shelf life when properly stored at ambient room temperature. LiSo2 batteries are capable of delivering repeated power bursts, and like their siblings, boast a high energy density of 330Wh/kg. While lithium sulfur dioxide batteries are cost-effective to manufacture, they are increasingly being supplanted by the superior Li-M cell. The battery gets its name from its cathode which consists of porous carbon filled with sulfur dioxide.

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This table summarizes some of the important characteristics of the four discusses primary lithium batteries. Alkaline is included for comparison.

*Passivation is a very thin, resistant layer that forms on the lithium anode surface that serves to inhibit lithium degradation and minimize the self-discharge rate of lithium batteries.

For more about other primary batteries check out:

1. What is Lithium Primary Battery?

Firstly, we need to distinguish between two types of batteries. Lithium primary battery refers to a battery that can generate electricity when made, but cannot be reused. Secondary lithium batteries need to be charged before use, and can be charged and discharged multiple times.

Secondary lithium batteries are mainly divided into four types according to the positive and negative electrode materials used in the battery core: lead-acid batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries and lithium-ion batteries.

2. Differences between Lithium Primary Battery and Secondary Lithium Battery:

1. Structurally, during the discharge of secondary lithium batteries, the reversible changes occur between the electrode volume and structure, while the internal structure of lithium primary batteries is much simpler as it does not require the regulation of these reversible changes.

2. The mass-specific capacity and volumetric-specific capacity of lithium primary batteries are greater than that of ordinary rechargeable batteries, but the internal resistance is much higher than that of secondary lithium batteries, so the load capacity is lower.

3. The self-discharge of lithium primary batteries is much less than that of secondary lithium batteries. Lithium primary batteries can only be discharged once, such as alkaline and carbon batteries. Secondary lithium batteries can be used repeatedly.

4. Secondary lithium batteries are relatively more environmentally friendly than lithium primary batteries. Lithium primary batteries must be discarded after use, while rechargeable batteries can be used repeatedly. Secondary-generation rechargeable batteries that meet national standards can usually be used more than 1,000 times, which means that the waste generated by rechargeable batteries is less than one thousandth of that of lithium primary batteries. From the perspective of reducing waste, resource utilization, and economy, the advantages of secondary lithium batteries are very significant.

5. Lithium primary batteries have much higher internal resistance than secondary lithium batteries, and their high current discharge performance is also lower than that of secondary lithium batteries.

6. Under the condition of small current and intermittent discharge, the mass-specific capacity of lithium primary batteries is greater than that of ordinary secondary lithium batteries. However, when the discharge current is greater than 800mAh, the capacity advantage of lithium primary batteries will be significantly reduced.

Disposable lithium batteries, also known as primary lithium batteries, include lithium sub-batteries, lithium manganese batteries, lithium sulfur batteries, lithium iron batteries, etc., all of which are primary batteries and cannot be recharged.