Module – 1 15CHE22-2nd 2016

BATTERY TECHNOLOGY
1. What is a Battery? Explain the classification with examples.
A battery is a compact device consisting of two or more galvanic cells connected in series or
parallel or both. It stores chemical energy in the form of active materials and on demand converts it into
electrical energy through redox reactions. Thus, a battery acts as portable source of electrical energy.

Classification of Batteries
Batteries are classified into three types as follows.
a) Primary
b) Secondary
c) Reserved.

a) Primary Batteries: These are the batteries which serve as a source of energy only as long as the active
chemical species are present in the battery or in the cell. The cell reactions are irreversible. These are
designed for only single discharge and cannot be charged again.
Ex: Dry Cell, Zn – Hgo cell, Zn-Ag2o cell etc.,

b) Secondary Batteries: These batteries are chargeable and can be used again and again. The cell reactions
are reversible and are often called reversible batteries. During discharging the cell acts like voltaic cell
converting chemical energy into electrical energy. During charging the cell acts like electrolytic cell by
converting electric energy into chemical energy, hence these batteries are called as storage battery.
Ex: Lead acid Battery, Ni-cd battery etc.

c) Reserved Batteries: The batteries which can be stored in an active state and made ready for use by
activating them prior to the applications (usage) are called as reserved batteries. The key components of
the batteries such as electrolyte etc., is separated from the battery. And the battery is stored for a longer
time. The electrolyte if filled before its usage. The advantages of the reserved batteries are,

​ Batteries can be stored for a longer period.

​ To prevent corrosion at contact points during storage.
​ Self-discharging reactions during storage can be eliminated or avoided.
​ They can be used whenever they are required.
Ex: Mg – water activated batteries (Mg- Agcl & Mg -CuCl), Zn-Ag2O Batteries etc.

2. Explain the basic concept Characteristics of a battery.

A good battery must have the following characteristics.

a)​ Voltage: The voltage of a battery depends on the energy change in the overall cell reaction and the
nature of cell reaction.
Ecell = (Ec – EA) – |ηA|-|ηc| - i Rcell

Where Ec and EA are the electrode potentials of cathode and the anode respectively ,
ηA and ηc are the over – potentials at the anode and the cathode respectively and
i Rcell is the internal resistance. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page-1

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To obtain maximum voltage from a cell.

i) The potential difference between the electrodes must be high.

ii) The resistance of the cell must be low.
iii) Electrode reactions must be fast to reduce the over potential.

b)​ Current: Current is a measure of the rate of discharge reaction of cells.

It depends on the amount of active materials.It is expressed in ampere(A) per second and it is amount
of charge flowing per second. The units are Coulombs per second(CS-1).

c)​ Capacity (C): The capacity of a battery is the charge or the amount of electric current that can be
obtained from a battery. It is charge in ampere hours (Ah). The capacity of a battery depends on

i) Size of a battery
​ ii) Discharge conditions

The capacity of a battery is to be determined by

Where, C Capacity of battery (in Ah)
​ W Weight of the active material
​ n number of electrons. F Faradays constant.
​ ​ ​ ​ M Molar mass.

The amount of the active materials actually consumed during discharge determines the capacity of the
battery. The capacity also depends on the discharge condition it is measured by finding the time t taken for
the battery to reach a minimum voltage, Ecell for a fixed current discharge (I amperes).​

d)​ Electricity storage Density: Electrical storage Density is the amount of electricity per unit mass
stored in the battery. To get high storagae density the mass element should be minimum.
​ If we take Lithium as example 7g of lithium is required at anode to give 96500C whereas for
the same charge,65g of zinc would be required..

e)​ Energy efficiency: The battery should have high-energy efficiency. The percent energy efficiency
can be calculated as.

% Energy efficiency = Energy released on discharge X 100

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Energy required for charging.

f)​ Cycle Life: The number of charge and discharge cycles that are possible in secondary batteries,
before failure occurs is called cycle life. The cycle life of batteries must be high. It is applicable only
for the secondary batteries.

g)​ Shelf life: The duration of storage under specified conditions at the end of which a cell or a battery
retains its ability to work or to produce energy is called shelf life.

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Explain the construction and working of Zinc -air battery. ​
3.​

The cell is represented as,

Zn |NaOH (5M) |air, C
Zinc air battery consisting of anode containing granules of zinc mixed with 20%NaOH electrolyte.
Cathode can contains a porous carbon plate which provides site for the reduction reaction and do not
involves in the reaction. Carbon is catalytically activated to absorb oxygen gas. The anode and cathode
compartments are separated by a separator and both are encased in plastic or ebonite insulator. The reactions
are as follows.

Advantages:
i) High energy density.
ii) Low cost and compact
iii) Does not produce harmful products.
Applications: Used in Military radio receivers, transmitters, hearing aids.

4. Explain the construction and working of Nickel - metal hydride battery.

The cell is represented as,
​
MH | KOH (5.35 M) | NiO(OH)(s), Ni(OH)2(s) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page-3

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Nickel Metal hydride battery is made up of anode containing metal hydride such as ZrH2, VH2 and
TiH2 with hydrogen storage metal alloy such as La Ni5 or TiNi.Cathode consisting of nickel oxy hydroxide
both the compartments are separated by polypropylene. KOH used as electrolyte.
Cell reactions are as follows.

Applications: Used in
electric vehicles, laptops, cellular phones etc.
Advantages: i) Resistance to chemical oxidation
ii) High energy storage capacity
Li – MnO2 cell:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Lithium manganese dioxide cell consisting of anode can containing lithium and the cathode can
consisting of specially heat-treated manganese dioxide (MnO2). Both anode and cathode are seperated by a
separator made up of polypropylene impregnated with the electrolyte.(metal salt such as LiCl, LiBr, LiAlCl4
which are mixed in a organic solvent such as 1,2 dimethoxy ethane, and propylene carbonate.) The cell
delivers an emf of 3V.
The cell is represented as,

+ +
At anode, oxidation of lithium takes place producing Li ions. Li ions move into the electrolyte and
electrons move into the external circuit to reach the cathode.
 +
At cathode, MnO2 is reduced from +4 oxidation to +3 states to give MnO2 Li ​​ ​
Uses: Li – MnO2 cells are used in Safety and Security Devices, Calculator, watches, automatic
camera, memory batteries, cellular phones etc.,

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Li ion battery
Lithium-ion batteries are composed of three parts: Anode, Cathode, and an electrolyte.
1.​ Anode: Graphite Carbon.
2.​ Cathode: Lithium-metal oxide(Li-MO2), where M is commonly Co or Mn.
3.​ Electrolyte: A lithium salt such as LiPF6 dissolved in binary organic solvent mixture such as ethylene
carbonate-dimethyl carbonate.
Cell Representation: ​ Li/Li+C/LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate/Li-MO2

Cell Reactions:(Discharging and Recharging)

At Anode: Li-C6 Li+ + 6C + e-
At cathode: Li+ + e + MO2 Li-MO2
Net Cell Reaction: Li-C6 + MO2 6C + Li-MO2

During Discharing:
At Anode: Lithium atoms present in graphite layer are oxidized, liberating electrons and lithium ions.
Electrons flow through external circuit to cathode and lithium ions flow through the organic electrolyte
towards cathode.
​ At cathode, lithium ions are reduced to lithium atoms and are inserted in to the layered structure of
metal oxide.

During Charging:
Lithium atoms present in layered structure of metal oxide are oxidized, liberating electrons and
lithium ions.Electrons flow through external ciruit and lithium ions flow through the organic electrolyte
towards graphite carbon electrode.
​ ​ At graphine electrode, lithium ions are reduced to lithium atoms and are inserted in to the layered
structure of graphite

Applications:
 They are currenty used for powering portable electronic device like cell phones, laptops,and also in
defence,electrical vehicles,power tools and aerospace applications.
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Fuel Cells
1.​ What are Fuel Cells?
A galvanic cell in which the electrical energy is directly derived by the combustion of chemical fuels
supplied continuously.
2.​ Difference between conventional cell and fuel cell?
​ BATTERY FUEL CELL
1 Energy storage devices Energy conversion devices.
2 Secondary Batteries are Fuel cells are not rechargeable.
rechargeable
3 Need Charging Do not need charging
4 These store chemical energy These don’t store chemical enegry
5 Reactants and products are not be Reactans are supplied continuously and
supplied or removed respectively. Products are removed constantly.
6 Less efficient operation. More efficient operation.
7 Less eco-friendly More eco-friendly

3.​ Limitation and advantages of fuel cells:

Limitation of fuel cells
1.​ Fuel cells produce energy only as long as fuels and oxidants are supplied
2.​ The electrode used is costly.
3.​ Power output is moderate.
4.​ Fuels in the form of gases and oxygen need to be stored in tanks under high pressure.
Advantages of fuel cells
The fuel cells have the following advantages.
1.​ They offer high energy conversions
2.​ Their power efficiency is high
3.​ They are eco-friendly since the products of the overall reactions are not toxic
4.​ They can produce direct currents for long periods at a low cost
5.​ Fuel cells are used as auxiliary power generators in space vehicles, car engines, domestic lighting
and heating.​
3.9​ Explain the construction and working of Methanol – Oxygen fuel cell.

It consists of two electrodes made up of platinum in

between the electrodes H2SO4 is placed as a
electrolyte. Methanol and H2SO4 is supplied at the
anode and pure oxygen gas is supplied at the cathode.
The ethanol is oxidized to CO2 & H2O with the
liberation of electrical energy. The cell delivers an
emf of 1.20v. The cell reactions are as follows.
Cell Representations
​ ​ CH3OH / 38% H2SO4/ 02
Cell Reactions

Uses:
1)​ Used in Military applications.
2)​ Used for large scale power production stations.
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