| Cell phones have changed the world. A person can | | | | Memory effect is a strange phenomenon - if a |
| remain in "touch" with people around the globe | | | | battery (usually nickel batteries) is repeatedly |
| thanks to cell phone technology. Even though cell | | | | charged at partial discharge, the battery "forgets" |
| phone technology is just a few years old, cellular | | | | that it has the capacity to discharge fully. |
| phones have penetrated all corners of the world. | | | | Gradually the battery loses all capacity to fully |
| Cell phones are now available in thousands of | | | | recharge and has to be discarded. Li-Ion batteries |
| models. Cell phone battery is one of the most | | | | also have a low self-discharge rate of |
| important cell phone accessories. The cellular | | | | approximately 5% compared to other batteries |
| phone battery life is one of the key factors users | | | | that are generally around 20-30%. However if |
| look at when purchasing a new cell phone. | | | | mistreated Li-Ion batteries can be dangerous and |
| A battery consists of a cathode, an anode and an | | | | have very short lives. |
| electrolyte. The cathode is a metal oxide strip, the | | | | Some guidelines that can increase cell phone |
| anode a metal strip that has a tendency to | | | | battery life are: |
| oxidize, and the electrolyte a conducting medium | | | | * Never discharge Li-Ion battery fully, recharge it |
| in which the anode and cathode are kept. When | | | | at 40% capacity. |
| the anode and cathode are connected, the anode | | | | * Never store batteries above 60 deg Celsius. |
| draws oxygen atoms thus generating electricity. | | | | * Do not keep batteries in moist places. |
| Various types of batteries are available like alkaline | | | | * Do not dispose off batteries in fire. They may |
| batteries, lead acid batteries, lithium/manganese | | | | catch fire or explode. |
| dioxide batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries | | | | * Store in a cool places, this will increase their life |
| (NiMH), Nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries, lithium ion | | | | considerably. |
| batteries etc. For mobile phones lithium ion (Li-Ion) | | | | One of the disadvantages of Li-Ion cellular phone |
| batteries are predominantly used. | | | | batteries is that they have a fixed shelf life of |
| Lithium ion cell phone batteries are rechargeable | | | | approximately 5 years. The capacity of the |
| batteries. They are much lighter than other | | | | battery reduces about 20% every year. Hence it |
| batteries because they carry extremely | | | | is a good idea to check the manufacture date on |
| high-density charges and are easier to store than | | | | cell phone batteries before purchasing. Generally in |
| NiMH batteries. They do not suffer from memory | | | | cell phones, the batteries cannot be interchanged |
| effect. Sony Corporation first introduced lithium | | | | and cellular phone batteries are model specific. |
| ion batteries in 1991. | | | | |