Lithium batteries - basic information

Lithium (Li-FeS2) batteries compatible with standard AA/AAA batteries were introduced to the market of popular consumer electronics in early 2007 by Energizer (Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries). In mid-June 2008, Philips introduced Philips Lithium Ultra batteries.

A lithium-iron cell is made of a lithium (metallic) anode and cathode in the form of a paste of powdered iron sulfide, mixed with graphite immersed in a liquid electrolyte. Organic compounds are used as electrolytes, e.g. propylene carbonate, dioxolate, dimethoxyethane.

These batteries have a nominal voltage of 1.7 V, but at the beginning of operation they provide up to 1.8 V. Most electrical devices will endure such a difference, but some can be damaged: especially flashlights with bulbs and filaments and flashlights with LEDs powered directly from the battery (the so-called Direct Drive). Lithium batteries are resistant to temperatures from -35 to +60 degrees Celsius, and have a very long shelf life of up to 15 years.

Lithium battery manufacturers claim that they can take up to 7 times more photos than traditional alkaline batteries. Lithium batteries are very resistant to high current discharge, which occurs when charging a flash and are resistant to temperatures below 0 °C. Alkaline batteries, on the other hand, lose their capacity (up to 90%) below -5 °C because their electrolyte freezes. The combination of temperatures below -5 °C and high current load causes alkaline batteries to quickly refuse to work in such conditions. Measurements carried out under the same conditions - at room temperature (about 20 °C) show that lithium batteries have about 60% more capacity than alkaline batteries at low current load. When loaded with a high discharge current, lithium batteries show 4 times (i.e. 400%) more capacity than alkaline batteries.

See also: Table of Replacement Lithium Photo Batteries
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