Lithium batteries, one of the important technologies for modern energy storage, have undergone a long and challenging development process. In this article, we will review the origins and early explorations of lithium batteries to understand the initial development of this technology.

The origin of lithium batteries can be traced back to the early 1960s, when researchers began to realize that using lithium metal as the anode of batteries could achieve higher energy density and longer cycle life. However, the commercialization of lithium metal batteries has been limited due to the acicular lithium dendrite problem formed by lithium metal during charging and discharging. In order to solve the safety and longevity problems of lithium metal batteries, researchers began to look for other battery systems. In the early 1970s, the concept of Li-ion battery (Li-ion battery) was proposed by a research team at Stanford University. Lithium-ion batteries use the migration of lithium ions between the positive and negative electrodes to achieve charge storage and release, avoiding the problems of lithium metal batteries. However, technical limitations and lack of materials at the time hindered the commercialization of lithium-ion batteries.

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Until 1991, Sony successfully commercialized the first lithium-ion battery. This battery uses graphite as the anode material and lithium manganate as the cathode material, with high energy density and long cycle life. This breakthrough has enabled lithium-ion batteries to be widely used in portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers and portable audio devices.

With the commercialization of lithium-ion batteries, researchers began to further improve and optimize them. The research and development of cathode materials is an important direction. In order to improve energy density and cycle life, researchers have developed a variety of materials, including lithium cobaltate, lithium nickelate, lithium manganate, and lithium iron phosphate. At the same time, the improvement of electrolyte and the improvement of safety have also become the focus of research.

In the following decades, lithium batteries have been continuously improved and promoted. It has not only achieved great success in the field of portable electronic devices, but also plays an important role in the fields of electric vehicles, energy storage systems and renewable energy. With the continuous innovation of technology and the growth of demand, the development prospects of lithium batteries will be even broader.

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To sum up, the origin and early exploration of lithium batteries are important milestones in the development of this technology. The transition from lithium metal batteries to lithium-ion batteries solved the problems of safety and longevity, laying the foundation for the commercialization of lithium batteries. In future articles, we will continue to discuss the development history and technological breakthroughs of lithium batteries, as well as its important applications in the energy field.