Batteries selection criteria

Meethong N, Huang H, Speakman S, Carter WC, Chiang Y-M. Strain Accommodation during phase transformations in olivine-based cathodes as a materials selection criterion for high-power rechargeable batteries. Adv Funct Mater 2007 17 1115-23. 

Safety and reliability is a very important selection criterion for battery applications,... 

A further selection criterion is provided by the different limit temperatures in the electrolyte, as is also depicted in Table 3.2. The use of a particular battery system becomes questionable when the ambient temperature approaches its maximum permissible temperature. Nickel/cadmium batteries have a significantly lower limit temperature than lead-acid batteries. The systems thus dictate that lead-acid batteries should exclusively be used when the ambient temperature exceeds 35 °C to 40 °C. In the case of extreme ambient temperatures, however, a renewal of batteries should also be planned for, in order not to jeopardize the long service life typical of the system, even when using tubular plate batteries. 

According to the Marcus theory [64] for outer-sphere reactions, there is good correlation between the heterogeneous (electrode) and homogeneous (solution) rate constants. This is the theoretical basis for the proposed use of hydrated-electron rate constants (ke) as a criterion for the reactivity of an electrolyte component towards lithium or any electrode at lithium potential. Table 1 shows rate-constant values for selected materials that are relevant to SE1 formation and to lithium batteries. Although many important materials are missing (such as PC, EC, diethyl carbonate (DEC), LiPF6, etc.), much can be learned from a careful study of this table (and its sources). 

This is not to say that price is the sole criterion by which batteries are selected in automotive applications where benefit can be realized through either reduced weight, improved life, lower maintenance, less gassing, or increased reliability, the choice may be logically made to use VRLA in lieu of the flooded equivalent. 

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