Chemistry Comparison Chart
Micro Power Electronics offers custom batteries based on all commercially available chemistries. Micro Power also offers the technology and expertise to develop chargers for these chemistries. As OEMs strive to differentiate in competitive markets, Micro Power has increasingly addressed our customer's needs with the highest performance Li-ion or Li-polymer chemistry. Micro Power has designed well over one thousand Li-ion battery packs, and there are great differences even among seemingly similarly specified cells. Choosing the optimal cell can contribute to the success or failure of a product in the field and requires extensive knowledge of the performance profile of the cells under consideration, but the first step in ensuring a proper battery choice is to fully describe the "real world usage profile" of the device and then determining the most appropriate fundamental chemistry.
Rechargeable Batteries
Three cell chemistries, Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), Li-ion and Li-polymer, currently dominate the rechargeable market. The following chart compares these chemistries with the more traditional sealed lead acid and NiCd battery technologies. The most commonly recognized advantage and disadvantage is listed for each.
| SLA | NiCd | NiMH | Li-ion | Li-polymer | |
| Operating Voltage (V) | 2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Max. Series Cells (V) | 12 (24V) |
10 (12V) |
10 (12V) |
7 (25V) |
7 (25V) |
| Energy Density | 35 Wh/kg 70 Wh/L |
40 Wh/kg 125 Wh/L |
70 Wh/kg 200 Wh/L |
175 Wh/Kg 500 Wh/L |
175 Wh/kg 500 Wh/L |
| Cycle Life | 500-800 | 500-1000 | 500-1000 | 500 | 500 |
| Advantage | Cost | High drain rates | Good value | High Energy density | Thin form factor |
| Disadvantage | Low capacity | Low capacity | Venting | Complicated Packs | Expensive |
Non-rechargeable Batteries:
With a negligible self-discharge rate, the Li-primary cell is optimal for maintaining a high state of readiness. Li-primary cells offer higher voltage than traditional alkaline cells, and a wide operating temperature range is offered by these chemistries, in addition to the long shelf life. This yields products that are ideal for outdoor, emergency use. Micro Power's Li-primary battery packs can deliver full performance after being stored for five or even 7 years. Several different chemistries are available, such as lithium manganese dioxide, lithium sulfur dioxide and lithium thionyl chloride.
