If we look at the last few months, many companies have launched phones with 7000+ mAH batteries. Companies like Honor and Realme have provided battery packs larger than 10,000mAh in their phones. Many other companies are also ready to go on this path. Actually, these companies use silicon-carbon battery packs in their phones, which can store more energy in less space. With this, more capacity can be given to the phone without increasing its size. Despite increasing competition from other companies and despite the need for users, companies like Apple and Samsung are still relying on lithium-ion batteries. Even in the latest and most expensive phones of these two companies, mostly only 5,000mAh battery is available. In today’s explainer, we will know why Samsung and Apple are not following the path of other companies and using silicon-carbon batteries.
What is silicon-carbon battery?
Silicon-carbon battery is a new type of battery cell, which comes with silicon anodes. It has high energy density, which means it can store more energy in less space. Talking about traditional lithium-ion batteries, they have graphite anodes. Their energy density is 250-300 Wh/kg grams, whereas silicon-carbon batteries come in the 400-500 Wh/kg range.
Why are big companies hesitating to use it?
Doubt about long-term use- As the silicon-carbon battery starts getting old, its capacity starts reducing. The capacity of the new batteries may seem great, but engineers found that after 1-2 years their capacity starts reducing rapidly. Actually, due to the charging cycle, the structure of the silicon gets affected and after some time it is not able to store the power for long. This can create a difficult problem for companies like Samsung and Apple because these companies sell their phones with the claim of long-term durability.
Swallowing problem is also a cause for concern- Safety concerns regarding silicon-carbon batteries have not been completely resolved yet. In fact, silicon anodes can expand 3-4 times their size when swollen. In such a situation, if this battery ever swells, then the phone and even your pant pocket will not be able to handle it. To prevent this, silicon is mixed with carbon, but still companies are not 100 percent sure about its safety. Samsung has still not forgotten the Galaxy Note 7 incidents regarding battery. Therefore she does not want to take any risk in this matter. At the same time, Apple also plays safe with new technology.
Manufacturing is also a big issue- Apple ships more than 200 million iPhones every year. Samsung is also not far behind in this matter. In such a situation, if these companies suddenly change a fundamental thing like battery, then it is sure to have an impact on manufacturing. This is a deal worth billions and for this, manufacturing cannot be changed suddenly. Making silicon-carbon batteries requires advanced processes and obtaining large quantities of material can also become a headache for these companies.
Regulation is also a reason- The battery in the phone is not just a matter between the customer and the company. Regulatory and legal agencies also keep an eye on this. For example, a single battery cell with more than 20 watt-hours is considered a ‘dangerous good’ for shipping in the US. In such a situation, if a battery crosses this threshold then companies will have to do more paperwork for it. Besides, the transport rules for this will also become stricter and the cost of transporting it will also increase. This will make it expensive for companies to ship phones and will have a direct impact on the price. Also, in many countries, it becomes difficult to get regulatory approval if you go beyond the safe threshold. Given all these reasons, companies like Apple and Samsung are still relying on lithium-ion batteries.
So will these companies never bring phones with silicon-carbon batteries?
It is not that companies like Apple and Samsung keep themselves away from any new technology. However, they proceed with a little caution compared to other companies. At present, small companies are using this technology in their smartphones, which will provide real-world experience. If these efforts of small companies are successful and no new safety concerns arise, then Samsung and Apple can also adopt this battery technology in the next few times.
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