How Fast Charging Is killing Smartphones?

Every fast charging phone device has a low average battery lifetime.

How Fast Charging Is killing Smartphones?

The Problem

The problem is how batteries are constructed. Batteries are chemical devices where atoms from one electrode are deposited on another. In-car batteries this is lead while most smaller devices today use Li batteries where Li atoms do this job.

Charging Li-battery means moving Li atoms (ions) from one plate to another. Discharging works in the opposite direction.

The Quick Charging

Quick charging means moving more atoms (ions) in time and this leads to problems.

How the battery survives quick charge/discharge depends on its type and size. Phone batteries are small with very fine structures and are way more sensible than EV batteries. They will survive well-defined quick charging but they will have a longer life if charged slowly.

But Li-Ion batteries are also very sensitive to the region where are charged. For example, discharging a Li-Ion battery below 10% will lead to its destruction. Quick charging over 80% will lead to explosion and fire!

The Li-Ion Tantrums

Li-Ion batteries are very sensible and tricky and that’s the reason why special chargers exist. Every Li-Ion battery must have an appropriate charger circuit! Usually, a circuit is part of the device but there are batteries with built-in electronics. When your phone tells battery is empty it still has a 10% capacity. You will be able to turn the phone on but repeating this will lead to battery damage. You noticed how an empty phone does not show any signs of life - the battery is charging slowly and the phone is prevented to start. Same when the phone fully charged. It might say 100% but it is not. It is at some 80% capacity. 

The Reason

The reason is overcharging and a very long charging time from 80 to 100%. Very long!

So, if you need your battery to have the longest lifetime charge it slowly - normal charge rate at about 10h. Every charge above 0.5C is considered quick and will impact the battery. Also, a very important factor is temperature. For example, EVs do not quick charge if the battery temperature is above 40 deg C. Phones also take care of the temperature.

The Crap Batteries

Also a warning. Phones internal battery chargers are specifically designed for the battery used by the phone manufacturer. Replacing the battery is very problematic. If not the same battery chemistry is used. Li-Ion batteries are very sensitive to overvoltage and only 100mV overvoltage might lead to an explosion if the battery is kept for a long time on the charger. For example, Li-Ion charger chips could be bought for several battery voltages, e.g., 4.1 or 4.2V.

The End Notes

Wait. There is something more for you guys. If you're thinking that these are problems, so don't think that. Every problem is a seed of new fruit, a new kind of battery. But what it could be? I have written an article about Battery Technologies of Future. Check it out. If you liked this, share it on your social media accounts. Have a good one. 

Cheers!