What are the types of battery electrolytes?

Every battery has an anode and a cathode for holding charges, but there is no way these two can facilitate the flow of electrons from one to the other without an electrolyte. So, the electrolyte plays a vital role in the functioning of a battery with the process of chemical reaction. Since battery technologies are evolving, multiple innovative changes have been made, including the advancement in electrolyte technology.

Today, we have multiple types of electrolytes that come with varying properties and applications. Hence, users get different advantages for using the right type of electrolyte. In this article, we will discover different types of battery electrolytes.

Traditional Battery Electrolyte Classification

From a traditional perspective, electrolytes have been divided into two main categories depending on their physical form. These are the aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes with unique benefits and applications. So, here is an overview of these two classes of electrolytes.

Aqueous Electrolytes

Water-based solutions with dissolved ions from acids, bases, or salts make up aqueous electrolytes. The most typical examples are potassium hydroxide in nickel-cadmium batteries and sulfuric acid in lead-acid batteries. One of the biggest applications of these batteries is automotive starter batteries because they provide high surge currents, which help start an engine.

Other applications include portable electronic devices, and these batteries are also useful for emergency power systems to provide uninterrupted power for extended periods. Aqueous electrolytes are cost-effective compared to others; these are safer and have less environmental impact due to lower toxicity levels.

Non-aqueous Electrolytes

Lithium salts are frequently dissolved in organic solvents like ethylene carbonate or dimethyl carbonate to create non-aqueous electrolytes. These electrolytes are those that are frequently present in lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries. These electrolytes are good for providing high energy density and a long lifespan. Additionally, these can maintain a good performance within a wider temperature range.

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Due to such benefits, these electrolytes are commonly used with lithium battery technology in smartphones, laptops, and other gadget batteries. Their high energy density and long life make them a good choice for electric vehicle batteries. The high energy density makes the non-aqueous electrolytes a great choice for aerospace and defense applications. These applications involve critical temperature ranges and energy density requirements.

Classification of Solid Electrolyte

One of the three types of electrolytes is solid electrolytes. It is a rather new type quickly gaining popularity due to its stability, reliability, and safety features compared to other types of electrolytes. In the solid electrolyte type, we have 3 further classifications, including organic, inorganic, and composite solid electrolytes.

Organic Solid Electrolytes

Organic polymers with ion-conductive characteristics are commonly used to create organic solid electrolytes. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) and its derivatives are examples. The flexibility of these electrolytes makes them a good choice for wearable electronics.

Similarly, medical devices requiring a reliable power supply can use batteries made with organic solid electrolytes. Another application involves portable electronic devices due to the safety offered by these electrolytes.

Inorganic Solid Electrolytes

Inorganic solid electrolytes are often made of ceramic or glass materials, such as garnet-based structures or lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON). Inorganic solid electrolytes are used in grid energy storage units, electric vehicles, and aerospace applications due to their thermal stability, longevity, capacity, reliability, and added safety.

Composite Solid Electrolytes

Composite solid electrolytes mix organic and inorganic components to combine the benefits of each. Composite solid electrolytes are used in high-end consumer electronics and hybrid electric vehicles. Additionally, the high energy density and safety offered by composite electrolytes make them a good use of r batteries in industrial power applications.

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One thing common among all these solid electrolyte classifications is the reliability and safety offered by these. However, some differences and limitations are associated with every classification, making their use cases different.

Gel Electrolyte Classification

Gel electrolytes provide a middle ground between the extremes of liquid and solid electrolytes, offering a well-balanced range of characteristics that make them valuable for various applications. These gel-based electrolytes have many uses because of their unique qualities and benefits. Gel electrolytes mostly fall into two categories:

Polymeric Gel Electrolytes

Organic polymers like polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are combined with a liquid electrolyte to create polymeric gel electrolytes, which have the consistency of gel. The liquid component aids ion conduction, while the polymers give mechanical stability.

These provide mechanical flexibility, making them a good choice for wearable technology batteries. The polymeric gel electrolytes do not leak due to their consistency, and they also bring moderate energy density, making them a good pick for batteries used in versatile applications.

Some of the applications of batteries with this electrolyte include consumer electronics like laptops and smartphones. These are also used in light electric vehicles and photovoltaic systems.

Inorganic Gel Electrolytes

Inorganic substances like silica gel, zirconia, or phosphorus pentoxide are combined with a solvent to form inorganic gel-like electrolytes. The inorganic element contributes stiffness to the structure. Inorganic gel electrolytes provide several beneficial characteristics that make them ideal for particular applications.

First, they offer more thermal stability than their organic equivalents, making them more resistant to various temperature changes. Second, the battery's longevity is increased since these electrolytes are typically chemically inert or do not quickly react with other parts of the battery.

Thirdly, they have excellent ionic conductivity, especially when exposed to high temperatures, while having a structure that resembles gel and is virtually solid. Hence, batteries having this electrolyte are good for power backup systems for residential, commercial, and industrial levels.

Conclusion

Batteries cannot perform without the electrolyte since it works as the path of flow of ions between the positive and negative ends of the battery. Since batteries have evolved a lot, we use different types of electrolytes in them today. To harness the maximum capacity of a battery technology, using the right type of electrolyte is essential.

So, whether you are working on an industrial or personal application, understanding the electrolyte type and battery technology will help you work much better. It will be helpful when working with a new type of electrolyte for your use case.