Lithium-ion batteries for hearing aid applications: I. Design and performance

Rechargeable batteries have been designed for powering hearing aid devices (HAD). The cells, based on the lithium-ion chemistry, were designed in a si ze that is compatible with the existing HAD. The 10 mA h batteries were tes ted to characterize the design and the electrochemical performance from the point of view of a typical HAD application. Results are presented for cons tant-current tests, first-cycle conditions, charge voltage cut-off, rate pe rformance, and cycle life. The pulse capabilities and the preliminary safet y tests of the batteries will be presented in a following report. The resul ts of the lithium-ion HAD cells developed in this project are compared with other battery chemistries: lithium-alloy and nickel-metal hydride secondar y batteries and Zn-air primary batteries. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. Al l rights reserved.