
That’s because of the nature of the chemical reactions happening at the anode and cathode. The limit varies, but most rechargeables last two or three years. Despite their tinkering, lithium-ion batteries still have a set lifetime because the cycle of battery charging, discharging, and recharging can only repeat a certain number of times. Over the years, scientists have tweaked the formula of the chemical mix inside lithium-ion batteries to try to make them last longer, charge faster, and work more efficiently. Those electrons actually supply the energy for your smartphone or tablet-or in the case of Tesla, your entire home. As for those electrons, they move through circuits that are external to the battery, providing juice. When the battery is discharged, the reverse happens. That causes electrons to concentrate on the anode, at the negative side. When the battery is charging, positively-charged lithium ions move from one electrode, called the cathode, to the other, known as the anode, through an electrolyte solution in the battery cell. As Popular Science explained in our look at Tesla’s Powerwall battery: As you might expect, they contain… lithium ions.

The rechargeable batteries in today’s smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices all use a technology called lithium-ion. That means adopting good charging habits and taking care with battery storage. To extend the battery’s useful life for as long as possible, you need to take care of your device properly. And these rechargeable powerhouses have a finite lifespan: Over time, they will start losing power faster and taking longer to charge. Without a battery, your expensive laptop or smartphone is just a hunk of dead electronics.
