Battery capacity decreases over time due to several factors.
- Chemical reactions: Each time a battery is charged and discharged, chemical reactions occur within its cells. Over time, these reactions can degrade the battery’s components, leading to a decrease in its capacity to hold and deliver charge.
- Cycle count: Batteries have a limited number of charge-discharge cycles they can undergo before their capacity starts to diminish. As you use a battery and recharge it, the number of cycles increases, contributing to its degradation.
- Temperature: Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can accelerate the degradation of batteries. High temperatures can cause faster chemical reactions that degrade battery components, while cold temperatures can slow down chemical reactions, reducing overall battery performance.
- Age: Even if a battery is not used frequently, it will still degrade over time due to factors such as internal chemical reactions and natural aging of materials.
- Overcharging and deep discharging: Subjecting a battery to overcharging or deep discharging can also accelerate its degradation. Overcharging can cause stress on the battery’s components, while deep discharging can lead to chemical changes that affect its capacity.
- Manufacturing defects or impurities: Sometimes, batteries may have inherent defects or impurities in their materials or manufacturing processes that can contribute to premature degradation.
While battery capacity decrease is inevitable, proper maintenance, such as avoiding extreme temperatures and following recommended charging practices, can help slow down the rate of degradation.
