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Self-discharge
Spontaneous, gradual discharge of a charged battery without external load

Self-discharge is a phenomenon in batteries. Self-discharge decreases the shelf life of batteries and causes them to have less than a full charge when actually put to use.

How fast self-discharge in a battery occurs is dependent on the type of battery, state of charge, charging current, ambient temperature and other factors. Primary batteries are not designed for recharging between manufacturing and use, and thus to be practical they must have much lower self-discharge rates than older types of secondary cells. Later, secondary cells with similar very low self-discharge rates were developed, like low-self-discharge nickel–metal hydride cells.

Self-discharge is a chemical reaction, just as closed-circuit discharge is, and tends to occur more quickly at higher temperatures. Storing batteries at lower temperatures thus reduces the rate of self-discharge and preserves the initial energy stored in the battery. Self-discharge is also thought to be reduced as a passivation layer develops on the electrodes over time.

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Typical self-discharge by battery type

Battery chemistryRechargeableTypical self-discharge or shelf life
Lithium metalNo10 years shelf life3
AlkalineNo5 years shelf life4
Zinc–carbonNo2–3 years shelf life5
Thionyl chlorideNo1% per year6
Lithium-ionYes2–3% per month;7 ca. 4% p.m.8
Lithium-polymerYes~5% per month9[better source needed]
Low self-discharge NiMHYesAs low as 0.25% per month10
Lead–acidYes4–6% per month11
Nickel–cadmiumYes15–20% per month12
Conventional nickel–metal hydride (NiMH)Yes30% per month13

Further reading

References

  1. Garche, Jurgen; Dyer, Chris K.; Moseley, Patrick T.; Ogumi, Zempachi; Rand, David A. J.; Scrosati, Bruno (2013). Encyclopedia of Electrochemical Power Sources. Newnes. p. 407. ISBN 978-0-444-52745-5. 978-0-444-52745-5 ↩

  2. Moseley, Patrick T.; Garche, Jurgen (27 October 2014). Electrochemical Energy Storage for Renewable Sources and Grid Balancing. Newnes. pp. 440, 441. ISBN 9780444626103. 9780444626103 ↩

  3. Battery performance characteristics, MPower UK, 23 February 2007. Information on self-discharge characteristics of battery types. Archived from the original on 2024-06-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20240619083338/https://www.mpoweruk.com/performance.htm ↩

  4. Battery performance characteristics, MPower UK, 23 February 2007. Information on self-discharge characteristics of battery types. Archived from the original on 2024-06-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20240619083338/https://www.mpoweruk.com/performance.htm ↩

  5. Battery performance characteristics, MPower UK, 23 February 2007. Information on self-discharge characteristics of battery types. Archived from the original on 2024-06-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20240619083338/https://www.mpoweruk.com/performance.htm ↩

  6. Minamoto Data sheet of ER17505M Primary Lithium Thionyl Chloride 3.6V, 2800mAh, visited 19 November 2024 http://www.minamoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/17505M.pdf ↩

  7. Battery performance characteristics, MPower UK, 23 February 2007. Information on self-discharge characteristics of battery types. Archived from the original on 2024-06-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20240619083338/https://www.mpoweruk.com/performance.htm ↩

  8. Umweltbundesamt: "BATTERIEN UND AKKUS" (3,65 MB PDF), October 2012; visited 2018-02-14 https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/publikation/long/4414.pdf ↩

  9. "Lithium Polymer Battery Technology" (PDF). Retrieved 14 March 2016. http://www.manoonpong.com/Other/main_page=page_2.pdf ↩

  10. Panasonic http://www.panasonicbatteryproducts.com/eneloop_rechargeable_batteries/eneloop_rechargeable_batteries-aa_4-pack/ ↩

  11. Battery performance characteristics, MPower UK, 23 February 2007. Information on self-discharge characteristics of battery types. Archived from the original on 2024-06-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20240619083338/https://www.mpoweruk.com/performance.htm ↩

  12. Battery performance characteristics, MPower UK, 23 February 2007. Information on self-discharge characteristics of battery types. Archived from the original on 2024-06-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20240619083338/https://www.mpoweruk.com/performance.htm ↩

  13. Battery performance characteristics, MPower UK, 23 February 2007. Information on self-discharge characteristics of battery types. Archived from the original on 2024-06-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20240619083338/https://www.mpoweruk.com/performance.htm ↩