Lithium-Ion Battery in Freezer

Lithium-ion batteries are widespread in the electronic world these days. They are used to power electronic devices, like cellphones and electric cars. They also store electronic energy for a long time than other batteries. That enables the gadgets that use them to operate without an outside power source. But, these batteries also need care as they are prone to wear. Without proper care, the battery ages fast and cannot generate enough power.

What Happens if You Freeze a Battery?

You need to understand the lithium-ion batteries to know what happens when you freeze them. A lithium-ion battery comprises a cathode anode, separator, and electrolyte, negative and positive collectors. You need to connect the lithium-ion battery to the device when powering it. That allows the movement of charged ions from the anode to the cathode. Unfortunately, it also makes the cathode more charged than the anode and attracts electrons. The constant movement of the ions in the battery causes it to become hot fast. It can overheat even at room temperature, making it very easy to be damaged, fail, or even explode.

Keeping the lithium ion batteries in freezer lowers the speed of ions inside it. That reduces the self-discharge of the battery by almost 2% per month. Because of that, some people argue that storing your battery in the cold will help improve its life. But it would be best to consider the environment where you are storing it. Micro condensation of the battery can harm it more than the discharge of energy you want to save by freezing it. Also, you will not use the battery directly after you take it from the freezer. Since freezing lowers the discharging rate, you will have to wait for some time. Your battery will need time to thaw and charge it before use. Therefore you may consider storing it in a cold place but not necessarily in a freezer.

However, there are times when you may need to freeze the battery immediately. For instance, it will overheat when you leave it to charge for too long without disconnecting. Lithium batteries get charged very fast, making them very hot. One of the best ways of cooling them when they overheat is by freezing them.

What Does a Freezer/Refrigerator Do To a Battery?

The cold temperature from the freezer causes the movement of ions to slow down. As a result, it reduced battery performance. If you want to use it again, you have to charge it again. Also, the cold battery discharges its energy slowly, unlike the hot ones. That may cause damage to the lithium battery cells, making them die faster than their life span.

Do You Restore Lithium-Ion Battery in Freezer?

The lithium in the lithium-ion batteries is constantly moving, causing a temperature rise. For that reason, it is good to keep the battery either in cool places or at least at average room temperature. It would be best if you never thought of keeping your batteries in a hot basement or direct sunshine. Exposing your battery to heat will reduce its life span. So, you can restore the Lithium-ion battery by placing it in a freezer when you notice overheating.

But, when you consider putting your battery in a freezer, you should ensure that it does not get wet. It would be best if you sealed the Li-ion battery in an air-tight bag before placing it in a freezer. A well-sealed bag can allow the battery to remain in the freezer for about 24 hours without getting into contact with moisture. That is because moisture may cause various damages to your battery. That is why the best thing is to keep your battery away from the freezer.