Cell phones operate using lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries have become popular in the last ten years or so because they hold a lot of power for their size and weight, and on top of that they’re rechargeable. They’re perfect for things like laptops, iPods, and other handheld electronics. All these devices have seen sales go through the roof—and along with that the production and consumption of lithium-ion batteries.

The Science Behind Lithium-Ion Batteries

The way lithium-ion cell phone batteries work takes a little physics, math, and chemistry to explain. As the name implies, these batteries use Li+ ions as the voltage source; that is, they travel along and conduct the charge.

As with all batteries, a cell phone battery has a cathode and an anode. The cathode is traditionally made of a metal oxide, and the anode is often constructed of graphite (although other materials such as oxides and polyanions can be substituted.) The materials that the cathodes or anodes are made of can affect the voltage capacity of the battery, which can range anywhere from 3-5v. The standard cell phone battery voltage is about 3.6 volts. In order to better understand the Lithium-Ion battery from a visual perspective, there is a diagram available.