(Source: Thelabrepair)
Ever wondered why your smartphone battery drains faster than usual during the cold winter months? You might have noticed that even though your battery seemed to have been fully charged, upon checking again, a significant amount of battery capacity had been used. In severe cases, the device might even switch off when there is still some battery left. This is a common experience, especially on days when you have to spend most of your time outdoors. But why does a smartphone battery drain faster in colder temperatures?
First, let’s understand the basics of a battery
To understand why a smartphone battery becomes less efficient in cold weather, we need to grasp some basic knowledge. This will make it easier to comprehend why the battery drains faster in the cold. You might have heard of lithium-ion batteries. They are the type of batteries used in portable electronic devices, including smartphones. Nowadays, most devices use lithium-ion batteries.
Direction of current and lithium-ion movement during charging and discharging of a lithium-ion battery (Source: PowerZone)
Lithium-ion batteries supply and store power through oxidation-reduction reactions. The process of lithium atoms in the positive or negative electrode separating into lithium ions and electrons is called oxidation. The phenomenon of lithium ions and electrons recombining is called reduction. Lithium-ion batteries generate electron flow through these chemical reactions. This flow of electrons is known as the current. It is used for the battery to supply power to the device and to recharge itself.
Lithium-ion batteries consist of a positive electrode, negative electrode, electrolyte, and separator. The positive electrode uses lithium compounds favorable for oxidation reactions. The negative electrode uses materials like graphite that stably store electrons. The electrolyte separates the positive and negative electrodes and acts as a medium that aids the movement of lithium ions that have lost electrons. The separator divides the positive and negative electrodes and only allows lithium ions to pass through.
Components of a lithium-ion battery (Source: Samsung SDI)
During charging, the lithium atoms in the positive electrode separate into lithium ions and electrons due to the oxidation reaction. The electrons move to the negative electrode through a separately installed wire (pathway). The lithium ions move to the negative electrode through the electrolyte and the separator. Subsequently, they recombine with the electrons through the reduction reaction. The discharge process also goes through a similar process, except that the lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode. Thus, the basic operation of the battery involves the movement of lithium ions and electrons.
What does temperature have to do with it?
Lithium-ion batteries require oxidation-reduction reactions to charge and discharge. In other words, chemical reactions need to occur efficiently. External conditions like temperature can greatly influence these chemical reactions. This is why we directly experience a drop in battery efficiency during colder winter months. Lower temperatures interfere with the chemical reactions of a lithium-ion battery.
(Source: LG Energy Solution)
Lithium ions move between the positive and negative electrodes through the electrolyte. Generally, when the temperature drops, the viscosity of a liquid increases. The same applies to the electrolyte. On cold days, the viscosity of the electrolyte increases, making it difficult for the lithium ions, which move through it, to move properly. This means that the chemical reactions do not occur as efficiently as they do at room temperature, which is why the efficiency of battery charging and discharging decreases.
Samsung Electronics has previously shared a video of a battery efficiency experiment conducted with the same smartphone model at different temperatures. One smartphone was placed in a 28-degree environment and the other in a 16-degree environment, and videos were played on both. All the smartphones used in the experiment were fully charged. After a certain period, the battery of the smartphone kept in the warmer environment was at 54%, while the one kept in the colder environment was at 48%. This shows that even a small temperature difference can significantly affect the battery efficiency.
Electric cars using lithium-ion batteries also experience reduced charging speed and driving range in cold environments. (Source: LG Energy Solution)
This phenomenon is also common in electric cars that use lithium-ion batteries. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the mileage of an electric car decreases by 34% at minus 7 degrees compared to normal conditions. Even if the battery is fully charged, the maximum driving range decreases when the temperature is low. This is not only true for electric cars, but also for internal combustion engine cars whose batteries tend to discharge easily on cold days.
So, what should we do?
The fact that lithium-ion batteries do not perform at their best at low temperatures is a natural phenomenon. It can’t be completely prevented. However, if you know the optimal operating temperature, you won’t have to suffer from sudden drops in battery capacity. The optimal operating temperature for a lithium-ion battery is between 15 and 55 degrees Celsius. As long as your smartphone is not exposed to extremely cold or hot environments, it should be fine.
(Source: Pixabay)
When you’re not using your smartphone outdoors, it’s a good idea to keep it in your pocket or bag. Do not place your smartphone near a hot object like a heat pack to warm it up. High temperatures can interfere with chemical reactions and in severe cases, can cause problems with the battery. For charging efficiency a warm indoor environment is best.
✔ Why smartphone batteries drain faster on cold days
1. Electronic devices like smartphones use lithium-ion batteries.
2. Lithium-ion batteries supply power through chemical reactions.
3. In this process, lithium ions move between the positive and negative electrodes through the electrolyte.
4. On cold days, the viscosity of the electrolyte increases slowing down the movement of lithium ions.
5. As a result, the efficiency of battery charging and discharging decreases compared to room temperature.
6. Lithium-ion batteries perform best when used at the appropriate temperature.
By. Jung Hwan Yoon
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