High Energy Non-Rechargeable Batteries and their Applications

A variety of high energy battery types are available to design engineers, although not all are well characterized in the general literature. Most of these new systems are based on lithium anodes and are capable of energy densities as high as 700 Wh/Kg and shelf losses of less than 3% per year.

Accompanying this high energy density however are other less desirable characteristics. Certain lithium systems experience voltage sag following storage. Most have at least some safety considerations during abuse.

This paper presents general information on the two highest energy lithium systems, as well as one aqueous system which, while much older, is still capable of reasonably high energy densities.