Lithium batteries don’t commit suicide. They’re murdered.


By Marcus Jones, DipMarSur(IND), AMIMAREST


LiBs batteries are increasingly used in the marine industry. Their advantages are many: compact and cheap, with higher energy density, they can help to cut down sharply on fossil fuel use. Problems are rare, but when things go wrong the results have a high impact and take up emergency resources for a considerable time.


What is a lithium battery


A LiB is what is sometimes referred to as a rocking chair battery and was invented in the 1970s. Types are named by their Cathode material chemistry, LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate), and NMC are the most common. The current collectors are metal foils (Cu) Copper for the Anode and, (Al) Aluminium for the Cathode. Spread with a thin paste layer of Carbon nano particles on the (Cu) Anode and the Lithium chemical compound paste on the (Al) Cathode. Between them is a layer of organic solvent with a microns-thick Polyethylene Ion porous separator in the middle. This completed sandwich is then, rolled or folded into form factor called a cell and packed into casing.


Lithium cells come in three types or form factors:


A. B.


The cylindrical cell, such as the lithium 18/6/50. This is shaped like an AA battery and can be used alone or linked in series. It is usually used for smaller devices such as power tools but can be linked up to power larger things like Tesla cars.


The soft flexible Pouch cell often the size of an A4 sheet of paper but can be smaller: it can be shaped to fit within a housing and was originally developed for Electric Vehicles (EVs).


C.


The Prismatic cell with a plastic case. This is about the shape and size of a 6 cigarette pack stacked in pairs side by side. Victron LPF marine batteries use this cell type. LFP cells produce higher volumes of hydrogen gases and take longer to ignite the vapour cloud increasing the risk of VCE.


The cells are made into strings connected in series and then made into modules connected in parallel which form the battery pack. This is packaged into a metal or plastic enclosure suitable for the intended use.


74 | ISSUE 111 | MAR 2025 | THE REPORT


Image credit: Mitch Jacoby / C&EN


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148