18650 lithium battery technology has weaknesses, be cautious of accidents with portable power sources.

18650 lithium battery technology has weaknesses, be cautious of accidents with portable power sources.

The combustion and explosion accidents caused by built-in lithium batteries in smartphones and tablet computers, including Apple products, have led to widespread doubts about mobile power products driven by the same power source. Consumers are concerned that mobile power may become another source of such unsafe factors, and 18650 lithium battery technology is one of its weaknesses.

As the most technologically mature type of liquid lithium-ion battery globally, 18650 cylindrical lithium batteries are widely used in mobile terminal devices, particularly in tablet computers and smartphones, either in single cell form or in battery pack form. However, due to the structural characteristics of 18650 batteries, certain defects are inevitably present. According to reported incidents of explosions in the aforementioned devices, they are all caused by short circuits in 18650 lithium batteries (packs): improper use or inherent design issues in the cells can lead to excessive internal pressure within the lithium battery (pack). When this pressure is released, it exerts pressure on the battery's rigid casing (steel or aluminum casing), resulting in an explosion of the casing.

Current mobile power products utilize lithium batteries as their energy storage units. There are two technical approaches for these "lithium batteries". One is the liquid lithium-ion battery cell, represented by the 18650 lithium battery due to its most mature technology. The so-called 18650 lithium battery refers to its specifications of a diameter of 18mm and a height of 65mm. The other is the polymer lithium battery, typically designed as a square lithium battery. Polymer lithium batteries, due to their ability to be shaped into any form, are also used as power sources for many devices. When applied to mobile power, they can fulfill consumers' demands for miniaturization and thinness of mobile power. However, polymer lithium batteries have higher manufacturing costs due to the use of different materials compared to liquid lithium-ion batteries.

Many consumers seem to have an endless pursuit for high-capacity and low-price mobile power banks, yet they are not fully aware that these two requirements are contradictory given the current level of battery technology. Currently, several leading mobile power brands, such as Yubo, Pisheng, and Pineng, invariably adopt the relatively inexpensive 18650 battery technology in the early stages to open up market channels. As mentioned earlier, the problems encountered with 18650 batteries in other mobile devices cannot be completely avoided when applied to mobile power banks. Consumers' concerns about commercially available mobile power banks are not unfounded. If consumers inadvertently purchase inferior mobile power banks or subject them to overcharging or overdischarging, the mobile power bank can generate hydrogen gas during electrolyte electrolysis during operation, releasing heat at a level higher than normal, which cannot be effectively prevented. This sets the stage for internal battery short circuits, potentially leading to explosions and combustion. Therefore, in addition to choosing polymer lithium battery mobile power banks, consumers should also opt for products from reputable manufacturers, even if the price is slightly higher, as safety is better guaranteed.