CR123A Batteries: Everything You Need to Know

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What is a CR123A Battery?

The "CR" in this type of battery identifies its chemical composition, while the "123A" illustrates its size and shape. They are small — only about 34 millimeters long by 17 millimeters wide.

This makes them pretty easy to adapt for use in portable devices.

Giving a voltage of 3volts most of the time, CR123A batteries are used with devices requiring consistent performance from them.

Basic dimensions of CR123A Battery (Image source)

CR123A Battery Specifications and Features

In understanding what makes a CR123A battery, we need to get into critical analysis of the materials used and perform some calculations on how these materials influence the performance of the battery.

Now, at the center, this battery contains lithium metal that works as an anode.

• Anode Material: Lithium Metal

Lithium is a light element that has high electrochemical potential. With this fact, it means that the battery has the capacity to store a huge amount of energy in a compact volume.

Discharge of lithium undergoes through oxidation of lithium atoms, thus;

Li → Li+ + e−

This reaction is so that it releases the electrons and lithium ions.

To find out how much lithium there will be in the cell of a CR123A battery, we shall revert back to its capacity usually in the order of about 1400 – 1500 milli-ampere-hours.

According to its atomic mass, lithium has about 6.94 grams per mole while it gives an absolute charge of 26.8 ampere-hours per mole.

Therefore, the quantity of lithium that will be needed at a capacity of 1.5 Ah can be calculated as follows:

Moles of Li = Capacity in Ah/ Charge per mole

= 1.5 Ah/26.8 Ah/mol

≈ 0.056 mol

We then calculate the mass of lithium as follows:

Mass of Li = Molar Mass x Moles of Li

= 0.056 mol x 6.94/mol

≈ 0.39 g

Thus, to provide that 1.5 Ah capacity, it will take about 0.39 grams of lithium metal within the cell.

• Cathode Material: Manganese Dioxide

Moving on towards the cathode material, manganese dioxide (MnO2) is being used. It reacts with the Lithium ions in the discharging cycles of the battery.

This can be formulated as follows:

MnO2 + Li+ + e− →LiMnO2

Since one CR123A battery has 7 grams of MnO2, and the MnO2 molar mass is known as 86.94 gr/mole, the moles of MnO2 can be determined as;

Moles MnO2 = Mass / Molar Mass

= 7g / 86.94 g/mol

≈ 0.080 mol

Theoretically, each mole of MnO2 supplies 26.8 ampere-hours, so this capacity is contributed by 0.080 moles of MnO2 based on;

Capacity Contribution = Moles of MnO2 x 26.8 Ah/mol

= 0.080 mol x 26.8 Ah/mol

≈ 2.14 Ah

This informs us that the MnO2 could very easily accommodate far greater capacity than the typical 1.5Ah of the CR123A battery since more than enough capacity was within the materials' constraint.

Electrolyte

The third component is the electrolyte, which may be a lithium salt, lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), dissolved in organic solvents such as propylene carbonate.

Now, assuming that the concentration is of the order of 1 mole per liter, and taking that the total volume be about 10 milliliters, this comes to 0.01 liters, the approximate number of moles of LiPF6 consumed will be:

LiPF6 moles = concentration x volume

= 1 mol/L x 0.01 L

= 0.01 mol

The molar mass of LiPF6 is about 151.9 grams per mole, so

Mass of LiPF6 = Moles x Molar Mass

= 0.01 mol x 151.9g/mol

= 1.52 g

Hence, in an electrolyte, about 1.52 grams of LiPF6 would be consumed.

It is comparatively unique that lithium metal and manganese dioxide are put together with an aptly formulated electrolyte to make a good performing, high-powered energy source with a CR123A battery.

All these materials, in the precise amounts-0.39 grams of lithium, 7 grams of manganese dioxide, and 1.52 grams of LiPF6 make up the contents that will go a long way into ensuring the battery works as expected.

But how?

CR123A Battery Functionality

A CR123A battery utilizes an electrochemical reaction to convert the chemical energy into electrical energy. Discussed below is the actual process.

Operational Principle:

While using a CR123A battery, the chemical reactions of the anode, cathode as well as the electrolyte result in electrical energy. The key reaction takes place at the stage of expansion and contraction.

However, since CR123A batteries are fairly non-rechargeable, we will mostly concentrate on the discharging process.

1. Discharging Process

While discharging,  a battery gives way to energy to run a device. This basically consists of anode reaction:

Anode Reaction:

We have already quoted the anode: a plate of lithium metal. Lithium oxidizes to lithium ions. This can be summarized by the reaction:

Li → Li+ + e−

The amount of the charge delivered may be calculated provided 1 mole of lithium. Lithium has an atomic mass = about 6.94 grams per mole. One mole of lithium yields one mole of electrons.

Thus, the charge Q delivered to 1 mol of Lithium is given by,

Q=Moles Li x Faraday's constant

= 1 mol Lix 96,485 C mol

= 96,485 C

The net charge will have a value of Q that will feed electrical energy into a device.

Electrolyte:

The electrolyte controls the flow of lithium ions from the anode and to the cathode or vice versa. It allows the flow of the ions and at the same time blocks the flow of free electrons.

Cathode Reaction:

At the cathode typically containing manganese dioxide (MnO2), the lithium ions react with to form lithium manganese dioxide (LiMnO2).

The reaction is expressed by the following equation:

Li+ + MnO2 + e− → LiMnO2

That is how that chemical energy gets converted into electrical energy which then powers your device.

2. Electrical Output

We know from before that the nominal voltage of a CR123A battery is 3 volts. The voltage is produced due to electro-chemical potential difference between anode and the cathode.

In order to elaborate the details, we use Gibbs free energy change for the reactions:

ΔG = -nFE

Here,

• n is the number of mole of electrons transferred.

• F is the faraday's constant 96,485C/mol.

• E is the cell voltage.

For our battery E is 3 volts. The Gibbs free energy charge for the battery is:

ΔG=-1 mol x 96,485C/mol x 3V

=-289,455J

This shows the amount of energy available from the battery.

3. Power and Energy Output

The energy in a battery is derived from its capacity. A CR123A battery has a capacity of 1500 mAh or 1.5 Ah, and the energy is given as:

Energy (Wh) = Capacity (Ah) x Voltage (V)

= 1.5 Ah x 3V

= 4 Wh

Convert, now, the above answer in watt hours to joules. Given 1 Wh = 3,600 J:

Energy (J) = 4.5 Wh x 3,600 J/Wh

= 16,200 J

Advantages of CR123A Batteries

What do you expect of the CR123A batteries? Let's look at some of those advantages that help the batteries stand out:

High energy density

It is known that CR123As have high energy density, meaning they pack a lot of power in their small packaging. 

Their construction is based on lithium-based chemistry, which guarantees that they can store energy differently from the storage ability of a regular alkaline battery in the same size category.

Long Shelf Life

A CR123A battery has a large storage life—sometimes up to 10 years or even more when not in use.

This is due to its low self-discharge rate, meaning it loses little power when sitting.

Just perfect to be used in emergency equipment or as a power source backup, because one can be assured that they are going to work when the need arises.

Steady Voltage Output

These batteries will have a constant voltage output of about 3 volts throughout life. For electrical gadgets requiring stable power, this kind of energy source becomes very important.

Steady Performance under Extremes

The CR123A is regarded as reliable when working under extremes. It will work correctly at temperature extremes, from very cold to very hot.

CR123A Battery Applications

Generally, many tools we use in everyday life are powered by CR123A. The following are these common tools:

Flashlight and Headlamps

High energy density in CR123A batteries enables the flashlight to give a bright and continuous beam of light for a long time; hence, it becomes a source of dependence for daily use such as hiking.

These batteries are also heavily relied upon by emergency responders.

Medical Devices

The CR123A battery is designed to perform reliably in critical conditions, similar to products that can be life-saving in emergencies. This is why they are used in medical devices that must be highly reliable, as these devices can sometimes be a matter of life and death.

Insulin pumps and portable defibrillators are just two of the huge samples of medical devices in which this battery is utilized, simply because it possesses an intrinsic characteristic of delivering power that is constant and consistent over one long duration.

Now, such an application means performance of the battery has to be nothing short of optimum for, in case of any fail, then they lead to monumental ruin.

Military and Tactical Equipment

Finally, they find wide application in military and tactical equipment. The batteries drive night-vision goggles, weapon-mounted illumination tools, and communication devices—very vital gadgets in very demanding situations.

Military and law enforcement personnel depend on the reliability and toughness of CR123A with the assurance that their gear will work right, no matter what.

FAQs

These are the most commonly asked questions about CR123A batteries:

Are the CR123A batteries rechargeable?

The CR123A batteries are single-use batteries and not rechargeable, while other versions are rechargeable, usually marked in the market as RCR123A.

Are CR123A interchangeable with those of AA?

Always "Check on device compatibility", as CR123A batteries are by no means interchangeable with AA batteries; there are different specifications for voltage and size.

Conclusion

CR123A provides optimum balance between a high energy density and reliability within an extremely wide range of applications.

Be it to light up headlamps, power a camera, or for military applications, the CR123A battery is all performance at whatever mission it is put to.