Are lithium batteries susceptible to low temperatures? Charging requires even more temperature control than discharging. Of all environmental factors, temperature has the greatest impact on battery charge and discharge performance; the electrochemical reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface are related to ambient temperature.
Are lithium batteries susceptible to low temperatures?
Lithium batteries are characterized by large storage capacity, stable operation, and virtually no memory effect. They also have advantages in adapting to ambient temperature; for example, lithium thionyl chloride batteries can operate in a temperature range of -40℃ to +55℃. However, when the temperature drops to -40℃, the capacity will change, becoming about 50% of that at room temperature. This indicates that low temperatures have a significant impact on lithium batteries, and they should be stored and used at room temperature whenever possible.
Lithium-ion batteries face limitations in low-temperature environments. Besides the severe degradation of discharge capacity, they cannot be charged at low temperatures. During low-temperature charging, the intercalation of lithium ions and the lithium plating reaction on the graphite electrodes occur simultaneously and compete with each other. At low temperatures, the diffusion of lithium ions in graphite is suppressed, and the conductivity of the electrolyte decreases, leading to a reduced intercalation rate. Meanwhile, the lithium plating reaction is more likely to occur on the graphite surface.
Lithium batteries deplete their power easily in low temperatures, retaining only about 70% of their capacity at room temperature. When shooting outdoors with a camcorder, carry several spare lithium batteries, and remember to turn off the power when not shooting to conserve energy. If you have an external battery compartment as a backup power source, you can place it inside your clothing and power the camera via a cable.
Why does charging require more temperature than discharging?
Many companies' battery products can discharge normally at low temperatures, but at the same temperature, they struggle to charge normally, or even cannot charge at all. When Li+ ions are inserted into graphite materials, they first undergo desolvation, a process that consumes energy and hinders the diffusion of Li+ ions into the graphite interior. Conversely, when Li+ ions exit the graphite material and enter the solution, there is a solvation process, which consumes no energy, allowing Li+ ions to exit the graphite quickly. Therefore, the charge acceptance capability of graphite materials is significantly inferior to their discharge acceptance capability.
Charging batteries at low temperatures carries certain risks. As the temperature decreases, the kinetic properties of the graphite anode deteriorate further. During charging, the electrochemical polarization of the anode intensifies significantly, and the deposited lithium metal is prone to forming lithium dendrites, which can penetrate the separator and cause a short circuit between the positive and negative electrodes.
Avoid charging lithium-ion batteries at low temperatures whenever possible. When charging must be done at low temperatures, use a small current (i.e., slow charging) and allow the battery to rest sufficiently after charging to ensure that the lithium metal deposited at the negative electrode can react with the graphite and re-intercalate into the graphite negative electrode.
Industry companies and research institutions have focused their efforts on improving the low-temperature performance of batteries by refining the processes of existing positive and negative electrode materials and creating conditions for batteries to operate at low temperatures by increasing the local ambient temperature. With further technological advancements, lithium batteries are expected to achieve further breakthroughs in low-temperature environments.
