I. Nickel Hydride
Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries have the same operating voltage (1.2V) as nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries. However, by using rare-earth alloys or Tini alloys as the negative electrode active material, replacing the carcinogenic cadmium, this new type of battery not only becomes a green and environmentally friendly battery, but also increases the battery's specific energy by nearly 40%, reaching 60-80 Wh/kg and 210-240 Wh/L. This type of battery was gradually industrialized in the early 1990s and was first used in mobile phone batteries. Although its dominant position in mobile phones has been gradually replaced by lithium-ion batteries, its market share in European and American mobile phone applications is still around 50%.
II. Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion) consist of a carbon electrode (for lithium-ion insertion and extraction) as the negative electrode, a metal oxide electrode (LiCO2, LINO2, or LIMN2O4) as the positive electrode for reversible lithium insertion, and an organic electrolyte. Their operating voltage is 3.6V, therefore one lithium-ion battery is equivalent to three nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride batteries. Consequently, the specific energy of this type of battery can exceed 100Wh/kg and 280Wh/L, significantly surpassing the specific energy of nickel-metal hydride batteries. Due to these advantages, their production and usage grew at an extremely high rate in just a few years from 1993 to 2000.
III. Alkaline Zinc Manganese
Alkaline zinc-manganese dry cell batteries have a higher capacity than ordinary dry cell batteries of the same size and can discharge at high current. They utilize mercury-free zinc powder, making them a green battery and a mainstream product among primary batteries. Alkaline zinc-manganese dry cell batteries remain the most commonly used power source for pagers. Meanwhile, the rechargeability of these batteries is attracting global attention; a US company has launched a rechargeable alkaline manganese battery, and its application is slowly growing. This type of battery retains the discharge characteristics of a primary battery and can be recharged dozens to hundreds of times (deep charge-discharge cycle life is approximately 25 times).
IV. Lithium Plastics
Lithium-plastic batteries (LiP) are a new type of battery that uses metallic lithium as the negative electrode and a conductive polymer as the electrolyte, achieving specific energy levels of 170 Wh/kg and 350 Wh/L. Lithium-ion plastic batteries, on the other hand, store the organic electrolyte from lithium-ion batteries in a polymer membrane, or use a conductive polymer as the electrolyte, eliminating free electrolyte in the battery. These batteries can be thermo-sealed using an aluminum-plastic composite film, resulting in lightweight construction, customizable shapes, and improved safety.
V. Fuel Cells
A fuel cell (FC) is a device that directly and continuously generates electricity using fuel (such as hydrogen or fuel-containing gas) and an oxidant (such as pure oxygen or oxygen from the air). Because it avoids the limitations of the Carnot cycle, this type of power generation device is not only highly efficient (electrochemical reaction conversion efficiency can reach over 40%), but also emits no polluting gases, making it a future high-efficiency and clean power generation method. Many companies both domestically and internationally are dedicated to developing PEM fuel cells suitable for mobile phones and laptops; once put into application, their economic benefits will be enormous.
Sealed lead-acid batteries are a type of lead-acid battery.
The following new green battery technologies and related industries are developing particularly rapidly.
1. Hydrogen storage materials and nickel-metal hydride batteries (Ni-MH rechargeable batteries)
2. Lithium-ion intercalation materials and liquid electrolyte lithium-ion batteries
3. Polymer electrolyte lithium-ion battery or lithium-ion battery
4. Zinc-air batteries and PEM fuel cells
VI. Organic matter
Researchers in Jerusalem have developed what's known as the "potato battery," which involves inserting zinc and copper electrodes into a boiled potato. The simple "boiling" process increases the battery's power tenfold, making potato batteries a potentially cheap and readily available source of electricity for developing countries. It's a truly green and environmentally friendly battery. Yissum, the research company behind this technology, is offering it free of charge to any interested developing countries. While its energy storage capacity is significantly less than that of conventional lithium-ion batteries, it is 100% environmentally friendly.
Yissum, a research and development company utilizing technology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is developing a new battery called "solid organic electric battery based upon treated potatoes," which, simply put, is a potato-powered battery. This battery offers a simple, sustainable, reliable, and inexpensive solution to meet the electricity needs of regions around the world lacking power infrastructure.
Researchers at the Hebrew University have discovered that a potato coating enhances salt bridging capabilities, resulting in batteries with the potato coating producing ten times more energy than those without. Cost analysis shows that the new batteries are 5 to 50 times cheaper than existing commercial batteries such as the 1.5 Volt D battery and the Energizer E91 battery.
VII. New Green Batteries
The following new green battery technologies and related industries are developing particularly rapidly.
1. Hydrogen storage materials and nickel-metal hydride batteries - Ni-MH rechargeable batteries
2. Lithium-ion intercalation materials and liquid electrolyte lithium-ion batteries
3. Polymer electrolyte lithium-ion battery or lithium-ion battery
4. Zinc-air batteries and PEM fuel cells
In addition to the above, in response to the rapid growth of my country's communications industry, my country's battery industry is promoting the technological development and expanding the application market of environmentally friendly mercury-free alkaline zinc-manganese batteries, rechargeable batteries, and sealed lead-acid batteries at an extremely high speed.
