Nowadays, Lithium-ion batteries are the top choice for all kinds of electronic devices. From camcorders to laptops, the advantages of the Lithium-ion batteries make them the ideal choice for various devices. But sometimes, we leave these batteries unused for a long time and throw them out, thinking that they are dead. But that’s not always the case. All the battery needs is a kick start, and it might start working again.

So, here, we will go through the possibility of rebuilding, reviving, and reconditioning the lithium-ion batteries. Let’s begin.

Consumers must understand that Lithium-ion batteries contain a protection circuit that shields the battery from dying and abuse. It also turns off the battery when it is overcharged. We all know that a self-discharge action takes place in the Lithium-ion battery under all conditions. So, when the battery pack slips into the sleep mode, the battery keeps on depleting.

If you are fortunate and using battery chargers and analyzers such as Cadex, then you will get the wakeup feature inbuilt in the charger. This feature is used to give a boost to the batteries that have remained ideal for longer than usual. The charger sends a small amount of charge to the protection circuit so that it will get reactivated, and ideal cell voltage can be reached. So, this way, you can revive the Lithium-ion battery pack that has been lying in a sleeping state.

There are approximately 18 billion lithium batteries that are shipped every year. Some of the airlines think that lithium batteries catch fire that cannot be extinguished. A new rule passed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is that no standalone lithium batteries can be shipped by the passenger airlines. But you can still ship the devices that need batteries for power. Only those batteries that are packed with the appliances can be shipped. The lithium batteries can be shipped via cargo-only aircraft.?

Rules for shipping lithium batteries through air

The lithium batteries n be shipped at a state of charge 30%. The batteries must not be fully charged because at full charge the movement of ions in the electrolyte increases that can cause danger.

The 30% of the charging means 3.0 V. the lithium cell at fully charged condition provides 4.2 V. So, by 30% it means that the 30% of 4.2 V. This should be kept in mind that no shipper ships the lithium battery at 30%. It is usually shipped at 70% of the charging.

The lithium batteries must be packed separately. They should be isolated from all other items.

The lithium batteries included inside the devices must be cushioned properly so that the device must not get on accidentally.

The shipper is not allowed to send more than one package of the standalone lithium batteries. The packing must be done according to the provided instruction by ICAO. For packing instructions he must follow the instruction 965 or 968 of Section II.

You should know that it is not lithium or oxygen that burns. When the cell is extra charges or discharges the oxygen in the matrix tries to convert into oxygen gas. That gas burns when heat increases. The storage place must have oxygen suppressant extinguishers.

The following differences between the two types of batteries have been analyzed from various aspects.

1. Different Raw Materials

Both Li-ion batteries and Li-polymer batteries consists of a different raw material. The electrolyte in the Li-ion battery is either liquid or is a colloid. On the other hand, the Li-polymer battery’s electrolyte has a polymer electrolyte, which is either solid or is colloidal, and also an electrolyte that is organic.

2. Both Batteries Are Shaped Differently

The Li-polymer battery is easily shaped and can be made slimmer with a thickness of about 0.5mm. Due to the electrolyte being solid in its colloidal state, the Li-polymer battery can be deformed and bent to almost 90°.

On the other hand, the Li-ion battery has a shell made of aluminum with a liquid electrolyte. Plus, the material in its outer packaging is also made up of aluminum as its secondary package. Due to the electrolyte being a liquid, it is difficult to shape it. Because of this, the Li-polymer battery has certain advantages over the Li-ion batteries. For instance:

(a) Li-polymer can be made slimmer with a thickness of 1mm or less.

(b) Li-polymer is light in weight as compared to other steel shell and aluminum shell batteries.

(c) Li-polymer has a higher power due to its structural characteristics.

3. Both Batteries Are Manufactured Differently

A high quality Li-ion battery is thicker, while a high quality Li-polymer battery is slimmer. Therefore, when it comes to the applications, the thinner battery is more expandable and preferable. The shapes can easily be customized and tailored to its customers’ needs. Furthermore, it makes complete use of its space, the models can be quickly converted, and has an increased capacity. Hence, they can respond quickly to the demands of the market.

4. Both Batteries Have A Different Capacity

The Li-polymer batteries have a larger capacity, and the lithium-shell batteries of similar size have a capacity that is 10 – 15% more. Due to its packaging and improved heat dissipation, batteries that have a capacity higher than 10Ah aren’t really difficult for Li-polymer batteries. Currently, batteries with a large capacity of 30Ah and a lot more don’t need special structure or packaging design. Hence, this development in slimmer batteries and batteries with larger capacities is a major breakthrough for the Li-polymer batteries.

5. Safety

In an environment with high pressure and high temperature the Li-ion batteries can easily explode. On the other hand, the Li-polymer batteries’ outer casing consists of a plastic film that is made of aluminum; hence the battery has no leakage issues thanks to the colloidal solid electrolyte inside it. Hence, even if it gets really hot, the battery will not explode.

6. Both Batteries Have A Different Voltage

The Li-polymer battery is composed of a polymer substance. Therefore, it can be constructed into a combination with multi-layers inside the battery cell in order to get a high voltage, with the battery cell having a nominal capacity that is about 3.6V. In order to get high voltage when used practically, multiple cells can be connected in a series in order to create the best high voltage platform that works.

7. Charging Life

The Li-ion batteries usually have a range that starts from 100 to 300 cycles. On the other hand, the Li-polymer batteries usually reach 300 to 400 cycles.

Broken or damaged cases can allow moisture and oxygen to enter the battery and oxidize the components of lithium, resulting in a heat reaction. This may result in fires or explosions. Overheating, overloading, and falling or crushing shock can also contribute to heat reactions.

Li-ion batteries that overheat, bend, bulge or swell or smell should be removed immediately

Damaged, faulty, broken and recalled Li-ion batteries must be properly packed and transported to prevent safety issues during transport.

Unlike conventional alkaline batteries and other types of batteries, lithium-ion batteries have many advantages. These also have a longer service life than other batteries and carry more power when properly stored, treated and used. Establishing and following appropriate protocols for these batteries to be stored, treated and used can help prevent fires and explosions. Training staff to understand the dangers of Li-ion and other battery types as well as how to properly handle, store, and maintain them can help prevent damage to batteries, fires, and explosions.

Batteries that are damaged, faulty and recalled are hazardous and require special handling. Don't put them in the garbage because they might cause a fire. The guidelines for proper disposal of DDR batteries vary depending on your situation:

Consumers: Install the DDR battery as soon as possible in a non-flammable material like sand or kitty litter. Consult the Consumer Product Safety information from Health, the website of the manufacturer, or contact the store from whom you bought it to see if the battery was removed. If it has, follow the supplier, distributor, or Health's guidance.

Better, place the battery in a clear plastic bag (one per container) and take it to the recycling center of your municipal hazardous waste (HHW). To see if it allows defective batteries, you can also contact a local drop-off spot. Do not put them in the garbage.

We all want to know how it is possible to prolong the Lithium-ion battery life. Well, the answer isn’t as complicated as you might think. Every battery comes with a maintenance guide that suggests every step that you can take to increase the life of the batteries. Some factors, like internal resistance and self-discharge, plays a dormant role in determining the exact life cycle of the battery

If you don’t want your battery to run out of juice faster than expected, then take a look at the tips given below to prolog the battery life:

Always keep the batteries at room temperature and don’t leave them in a location where they can get exposed to extreme heat or cold.

Prefer charging the battery partially instead of complete charge. As Lithium-ion batteries don’t have charge memory, you don’t need to wait to recharge them. In opposition, if you let the battery discharge completely, you are risking the charging abilities, and you might have to revive or recondition the battery.

For storage purposes, charge the batteries halfway and keep a record of the percentage. If the percentage flickers over time, then again charge the battery up to 50% and store it.

Make sure that you use the right charger for the battery. Only because the charger fits in the socket doesn’t signify that it is the right one. The wrong voltage might affect the battery capacity without any sign.

Learning a thing or two about the Lithium-ion batteries is the ideal way to keep them in optimal condition. The chemistry of these batteries is not that complicated. So, as long as you are careful, LIB will run longer than expected. Whether it is the shelf life or the run time, the battery life can be increased by following the guidelines given by the manufacturer. But don’t mistake to think that the batteries will last forever. Until this day, there is no  battery designed that might lasts for eternity.