A lithium-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery that uses lithium ions as a key component of its electrochemistry. The battery consists of an anode, cathode, separator, electrolyte, and two current collectors (positive and negative). During a discharge cycle, lithium atoms in the anode are ionized and separated from their electrons. The lithium ions move from the anode and pass through the electrolyte until they reach the cathode, where they recombine with their electrons and electrically neutralize. The lithium ions are small enough to be able to move through a micro-permeable separator between the anode and cathode. The movement of the lithium ions creates free electrons in the anode which creates a charge at the positive current collector. The electrical current then flows from the current collector through a device being powered to the negative current collector. When the battery is charging, the process is reversed, and the lithium ions move back to the anode.

        Li-ion batteries are more prone to catching fire as energy density continues to be improved. Li-ion batteries have a tendency to overheat and can be damaged at high voltages, which can lead to thermal runaway and combustion. Li-ion batteries require safety mechanisms to limit voltage and internal pressures, which can increase weight and limit performance in some cases. Li-ion batteries are also subject to aging, meaning that they can lose capacity and frequently fail after a number of years.

As alternatives of Li-ion batteries, other batteries such as Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries and Li-Air batteries have been proposed. Li-S batteries are a promising alternative to Li-ion batteries. They have a higher theoretical capacity and energy density than Li-ion batteries, which means they can store more energy in the same amount of space. It also has a benefit in terms of cost due to the use of sulfur, which is abundant and inexpensive. However, it still suffers from shorter lifespan than Li-ion batteries due to the dissolution of the sulfur cathode. (1) Li-air batteries are another promising alternative to Li-ion batteries. They have the potential to hold up to five times more energy than Li-ion batteries, which means they could significantly increase the range of electric vehicles. However, it has shorter lifespan than Li-ion batteries due to the formation of lithium peroxide. (2) Li-S and Li-air batteries have higher theoretical capacity and energy density than Li-ion batteries, which means they can store more energy in the same amount of space. However, they have shorter lifespans and lower power densities than Li-ion batteries.    

(1) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcradv.2022.200086
(2) https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/tb/stories/blog/28772