subject: Let Us Understand Lithium Titanate And Lithium Titanate Battery [print this page] When the chemistry discussions about titanate breaks, the first thing that comes into light is, inorganic compounds composed of titanium oxides. In this particular article, we will be talking about lithium titanate battery.
First, let us understand what it is -
As wikipedia.com explained, Lithium titanate (full name lithium metatitanate) is a compound containing lithium and titanium. It is an off-white powder at room temperature and has the chemical formula Li2TiO3. It is the anode component of the fast recharging Lithium-titanate battery. It is also used as an additive in porcelain enamels and ceramic insulating bodies based on titanate. It is preferred as a flux due to its stability.
Let us now understand what lithium titanate batteries are?
These sorts of rechargeable batteries are actually the customized version of lithium-ion batteries and come with an added advantage of better and faster charging than the lithium-ion batteries. To the date, Mitsubishi is using these batteries in their electric vehicle named as I-MiEV and the some sources claims that Honda is also going to use them with Fit EV model, which company is planning to launch in summer 2012.
Formula that works behind these batteries -
These types of batteries use nanocrystals on the surface of its anode and do not use carbon like other rechargeable batteries. This particular nanocrystal extends the surface area of anode to 100 square meters per gram, which is only 3 square meter per gram in case of carbon. The plus points of this extended surface area are
Ease granted to electrons for entering and leaving the anode quickly
Allow these batteries to recharge over a short span of time and makes them capable of releasing current as and when needed
Advantages of these batteries over lithium ion battery
These batteries are free from the problem of overheating because due to minimal use of carbon in the anode of these batteries, overheating is feasibly not possible
The battery charging capacity or in simpler words times, these batteries can be charged for is, way to more than ion batteries. In general, ion batteries can be charged only 1000 times (an approximation) where as these batteries can be charged for more than 15000- 25000 times.
