Lithium-ion Battery - Formats

Formats

Li-ion cells are available in various formats, which can generally be divided into four groups:

• Small cylindrical (solid body without terminals, such as those used in laptop batteries)
• Large cylindrical (solid body with large threaded terminals)
• Pouch (soft, flat body, such as those used in cell phones)
• Prismatic (semi-hard plastic case with large threaded terminals, often used in vehicles' traction packs)

The lack of case gives pouch cells the highest energy density; however, pouch cells (and prismatic cells) require an external means of containment to prevent expansion when their state-of-charge (SOC) level is high.