Why battery performance degrades
Why battery performance degrades？
Many people don’t quite understand why batteries store less and less power after being used for a long time. I will explain the reasons from many aspects below.
Battery performance degrades over time due to several factors, primarily associated with the chemistry and usage of the battery. The most common factors contributing to battery degradation are:
Chemical Reactions: Batteries operate through chemical reactions that occur at the anode and cathode. Over time, these chemical reactions can cause changes in the battery's internal structure, leading to degradation.
Cycle Count: The number of charge and discharge cycles a battery undergoes can significantly impact its performance. Lithium-ion batteries, for example, have a limited number of cycles they can endure before capacity and performance decline. Each cycle causes a slight deterioration in the battery's chemical composition.
Depth of Discharge (DoD): Deeper discharges, where you use more of the battery's capacity before recharging, can accelerate degradation. Keeping the battery charge level between 20% and 80% can help prolong its life.
Temperature: High temperatures can speed up the chemical reactions inside the battery, causing it to degrade more quickly. Extreme cold can also temporarily reduce battery performance.
Overcharging and Overheating: Charging a battery beyond its recommended voltage or exposing it to excessive heat can lead to damage and degradation over time.
Age: Even if a battery is not in use, it will degrade over time. This is often referred to as "calendar aging." Chemical reactions within the battery continue to occur even when it's not in use, gradually reducing its capacity.
Chemical Breakdown: Over time, the components within a battery can break down. This can include the electrolyte, the cathode, and the anode materials. This breakdown can lead to a decrease in capacity and overall performance.
Manufacturing Defects: Sometimes, batteries may have inherent manufacturing defects that can lead to premature degradation or failure.
Overcharging and Deep Discharging: If a battery is repeatedly overcharged or discharged to extremely low levels, it can suffer damage and degradation.
Usage Patterns: How a battery is used can also affect its degradation. Heavy usage, rapid charging, and discharging at high currents can all contribute to faster degradation.
Exposure to Environmental Stress: Environmental factors such as humidity and exposure to moisture can also have a negative impact on battery health.
To mitigate battery degradation, it's essential to follow best practices for battery maintenance, such as using the right charger, avoiding extreme temperatures, and not overcharging or deep discharging. Additionally, manufacturers are continually working to improve battery technology to increase the number of charge cycles and overall lifespan of batteries.
