How can smartphones strike a balance between a thin and light body and long battery life? High energy density batteries, dual-battery solutions and solid-state battery technology are breaking through the limits of traditional lithium-ion batteries. In the future, foldable screens and modular designs may completely rewrite the game rules. ""
The battery design of consumer electronic products (such as smart phones, laptops, wearable devices, etc.) always faces the challenge of balancing "lightweight" and "long battery life". The following is an analysis from aspects such as technical paths, design difficulties, and future trends:
The core contradiction between lightweighting and long battery life
Lightweight requirements: Users pursue thinner and lighter device bodies, demanding smaller and lighter batteries.
Long-range demand: It is necessary to enhance the battery energy density (the amount of electricity stored per unit volume/weight) or increase the battery capacity.
Contradiction point:
Energy density bottleneck: The energy density of traditional lithium-ion batteries is close to the theoretical upper limit (about 300Wh/kg), and increasing capacity requires an increase in volume/weight.
Space limitation: The internal space of the device is fixed. Expanding the battery may squeeze other components (such as the motherboard and cooling system).
Safety hazards: High-capacity batteries may cause risks of overheating and explosion, and lightweight design must take structural strength into account.
Key Technologies for Long-Range Design
1.High energy density battery technology
Improvements of Lithium-ion batteries
High-voltage platform: Increase the charging voltage from 4.2V to 4.4V, enhancing the energy density by approximately 10%, but it requires a heat dissipation design.
Silicon-carbon anode + high-nickel cathode: The typical combination energy density can reach 350Wh/kg.
New battery system
Lithium metal batteries: The theoretical energy density exceeds 500Wh/kg, but the short-circuit risk caused by dendrite growth has not been completely resolved.
Lithium-sulfur batteries: The theoretical energy density reaches 500-600Wh/kg, and the polysulfide shuttle effect needs to be addressed.
2.Capacity expansion and thermal management
Dual-battery solution
By using two small batteries connected in series or parallel (such as in some foldable screen phones), the capacity can be increased within a limited space while distributing the heat sources.
High-efficiency heat conduction design
Graphene thermal conductive film + VC vapor chamber (such as in ROG gaming phones) to prevent capacity attenuation caused by local overheating of the battery.
3. Energy recycling
Energy recovery technology
Mobile phones/laptops recover kinetic energy/electrical energy when braking or the screen goes out.
Popularization of low-power components
OLED screens (with self-luminous characteristics) consume more than 30% less power than LCD screens. ARM architecture chips (such as Apple‘s M series) have a 50% higher energy efficiency ratio than x86 chips.
Future Trends and Challenges
1. Technological breakthrough direction
Solid-state battery commercialization: It is expected to be gradually applied to high-end mobile phones and automobiles from 2025 to 2030, with an energy density exceeding 400Wh/kg, while also addressing the cost issue.
Mass production of lithium metal batteries: It is necessary to overcome dendrite suppression technologies (such as coated separators and solid electrolyte coating), with a target cycle life of over 500 times.
Flexible battery popularization: Used in foldable screen devices, it can be bent through a wavy structure, and its capacity is on par with that of traditional batteries.
2. Transformation of design concepts
Modular batteries: Users can replace the batteries themselves (such as Fairphone modular phones), balancing lightweight and battery life requirements while enhancing the durability of the device.
Wireless charging ecosystem: Reduce reliance on battery capacity (such as Xiaomi‘s "air charging" technology), but address power loss and safety radiation issues.
3. Challenges and Risks
Modular batteries: Users can replace the batteries themselves (such as Fairphone modular phones), balancing lightweight and battery life requirements while enhancing the durability of the device.
Wireless charging ecosystem: Reduce reliance on battery capacity (such as Xiaomi‘s "air charging" technology), but address power loss and safety radiation issues.
