The History of Lithium-ion Batteries
Pioneer work with the lithium battery began in 1912 under Gilbert Newton Lewis (a famous American chemist) but it was not until the early 1970s when the first non-rechargeable lithium batteries became commercially available. Lithium is the lightest of all metals, has the greatest electrochemical potential and provides the largest energy density for weight. Lithium Metal by itself is flammable and potentially explosive when exposed to air and especially water, though it is far less dangerous than other alkali metals in this regard. Lithium ignites and burns in oxygen when exposed to water or water vapor. It is also the only metal that reacts with nitrogen at room temperature.
Attempts to develop rechargeable lithium batteries failed due to safety problems. Because of the inherent instability of lithium metal, especially during charging, so research shifted to a non-metallic lithium battery using lithium ions. Although slightly lower in energy density than lithium metal, lithium-ion is safe, provided certain precautions are met when charging and discharging. In 1991, the Sony Corporation commercialized the first lithium-ion battery. With other manufacturers jumping on the band wagon shortly thereafter.