The key difference between lithium ion and lithium polymer is that lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density, whereas lithium polymer batteries have a low energy density.
Lithium-ion and lithium polymer are two terms often associated with batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are named as such because they have lithium ions moving from a negative electrode to a positive electrode. Also, the name lithium polymer batteries come from the electrolyte in this battery, which is a polymer material.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Lithium Ion
3. What is Lithium Polymer
4. Side by Side Comparison – Lithium Ion vs Lithium Polymer in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Lithium Ion?
A lithium-ion battery is a form of rechargeable batteries we commonly use for portable electronics and electric vehicles. These batteries get this name because it has lithium ions moving from a negative electrode to a positive electrode during discharging and in charging. The electrode material in this battery is an intercalated material (not lithium metal).
These batteries have high energy density and low self-discharge. Also, there is no memory effect. However, the lithium-ion battery can be a safety hazard because it contains a flammable electrolyte; thus, if we damage it or incorrectly charge it, the battery may explode or cause fires.
What is Lithium Polymer?
Lithium polymer battery is a form of rechargeable battery that has a polymer material instead of liquid electrolyte. The electrolyte contains high conductivity semisolid polymer (a gel). Further, these batteries make higher specific energy compared to other lithium battery types. Importantly, the battery is specially applied for lightweight devices such as mobile devices.
Besides, the battery has a microporous separator in between the two electrodes to prevent them from touching each other directly. The microporous separator allows only the ions to go through but not the electrode particles.
What is the Difference Between Lithium Ion and Lithium Polymer?
Lithium-ion battery is a form of rechargeable batteries we commonly use for portable electronics and electric vehicles. Lithium polymer battery is a form of rechargeable battery that has a polymer material instead of liquid electrolyte. The key difference between lithium ion and lithium polymer is that lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density, whereas lithium polymer batteries have a low energy density.
Further, the self-discharge of lithium-ion battery is very low, but in lithium polymer battery, it is comparatively high. So, this is another difference between lithium ion and lithium polymer.
Summary – Lithium Ion vs Lithium Polymer
Lithium-ion battery is a form of rechargeable batteries we commonly use for portable electronics and electric vehicles. The key difference between lithium ion and lithium polymer is that lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density, whereas lithium polymer batteries have a low energy density.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Nokia Battery” By Kristoferb at en.wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Lipolybattery” By Kristoferb (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia