Since the 1990s, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (hereinafter referred to as lithium batteries) have risen rapidly around the world and become an important power source for mobile communications, electric vehicles, energy storage and other fields. Lithium battery with its high energy density, long cycle life, environmental protection and other advantages, gradually replaced the traditional battery, become the mainstream of the market. However, little is known about the inventor of the lithium battery. This article will reveal the invention process of lithium battery and the scientists behind it.

the invention of the lithium battery course

1. The discovery of lithium

In 1817, the Swedish chemist Johan August Arfwedson discovered lithium while analyzing a mineral near Uppsala, Sweden. Lithium is the lightest metal in the world and has extremely high chemical activity, so it has great application potential in the field of batteries.

2. Lithium battery research

In the 1950s, the United States Atomic Energy Commission began to study the potential of lithium as a fuel for thermonuclear reactions. During the study, the scientists found that lithium has a high electrochemical equivalent, which means that it can release a large amount of energy in the battery. In 1958, the American chemist Norman (M.S. Whittingham) first proposed the concept of lithium-ion battery, and in 1966 successfully developed the world's first lithium-ion battery.

3. The invention of the rechargeable lithium battery

In 1970, the British chemist Stanley Whittingham (Stanley Whittingham) found the olivine type structure (LiFePO4) cathode material in the process of studying lithium-ion batteries. In 1976, while working for British Petroleum (BP), he successfully developed the world's first rechargeable lithium-ion battery. However, because the lithium metal negative electrode was prone to dendrites during the charging process, resulting in a short circuit of the battery, this technology was not widely used.

4. Commercialization process

In 1980, Japanese scientist Akira Yoshino (Akira Yoshino) found a new lithium ion battery cathode material after studying a variety of positive electrode materials - lithium cobaltate (LiCoO2). At the same time, the American scientist John B. Goodenough proposed the theory of olivine-type structural cathode materials (LiFePO4). On this basis, Yoshino successfully developed the world's first commercial lithium-ion battery in 1991 and used it in a SONY mobile phone.

lithium battery invented the scientists behind the

1. M.S. Whittingham: The originator of the concept of lithium-ion batteries, known as the "father of lithium-ion batteries."

2. Stanley Whittingham (Stanley Whittingham) : discovered the olivine structure of the cathode material, laying the foundation for the invention of rechargeable lithium batteries. 3. Akira Yoshino: Successfully developed commercial lithium-ion batteries, so that lithium batteries can be widely used in mobile communications, electric vehicles and other fields.

4. John B. Goodenough: Proposed the olivine structure cathode material theory, made an important contribution to the development of lithium batteries.

lithium battery in our country the development of the

the lithium battery industry in China started in the 1990 s, after nearly 30 years of development, has important position in the global market. The following are some important data of China's lithium battery industry:

1. Production: According to statistics, China's lithium battery production reached 13.16 billion in 2019, an increase of 12.9%. 2. Market size: In 2019, China's lithium battery market reached 105 billion yuan, an increase of 15.6%.

3. Number of enterprises: As of 2020, the number of lithium battery-related enterprises in China exceeds 5,000. 4. Technological innovation: China has made a series of breakthroughs in the key fields of lithium battery positive materials, negative materials, membranes, electrolytes and so on, and some technologies have reached the international leading level.

the invention of the rechargeable lithium ion battery, for human brings convenient, efficient and environmentally friendly energy solutions. From Norman and Whittingham to Yoshino and Goodyear, generations of scientists have made hard efforts for the development of lithium batteries. Today, lithium batteries have been widely used in various fields, becoming an important force to promote global energy change. In China, the lithium battery industry is booming and is expected to play a more important role in the global market in the future.