ABC of Rechargeable Batteries

The use of batteries has never been greater. Batteries are becoming smaller and lighter even as they package more and more energy per unit volume. The main driving force for battery development has been the boom in portable equipment such as mobile phones, laptops, camcorders, and MP3 players.The following brief overview of charging methods and current battery technologies is intended to lend a better understanding of the batteries used in portable devices. It includes discussions of nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) and lithium-ion (Li+) battery chemistries. The article also describes a product for protection of single-cell lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries.