Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 has been making headlines for the past two weeks after a series of explosions or fires of the device due to a faulty battery.
As a result, the South Korean tech giant was forced to issue a global recall of the Galaxy Note 7 and warn customers to stop using the device. The Galaxy Note 7 is the latest in a series of products with lithium-ion batteries with similar problems.
Below are some things you need to know about the recall and what can cause the battery to explode.
How do these batteries work and why do they catch fire?
A lithium-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery in which lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive during charging.
Manufacturers insert separators to keep these two layers apart, as they're not supposed to touch each other. Unfortunately, the chemical reaction that makes batteries work also produces heat. So charging them too quickly or overcharging them can lead to a fire.
What's the problem with Samsung batteries?
While no one knows the reason, Samsung has offered some explanations. It said it was due to a “very rare error in the manufacturing process,” where parts of the battery that should never touch each other came into contact.
When building next-generation technology, device manufacturers consider all sorts of factors like performance, cost, and safety. Furthermore, the need for longer battery life in their latest smartphone or tablet can lead to unexpected results. Trying to fit these batteries into a small, thin package, and since batteries generate energy through a chemical reaction, it’s really hard to reduce the risk (of fire) to zero. Sometimes convenience comes at a price.
Has this happened again?
Yes. Products like Sony Vaio laptops, hoverboards, electric bikes, and even Boeing's Dreamliner jet have reported battery fires. In Samsung's case, faulty batteries caused some devices to explode and catch fire while charging. After Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 recall, battery explosions continued to occur.
How widespread is the problem?
Not much. In a year, millions of lithium-ion batteries are produced, with a small percentage of them catching fire or exploding. About 35 incidents involving the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 were reported earlier this month.
What does this mean for Samsung and other gadget makers that use these batteries?
It will damage Samsung's reputation and could cut into its profits at a time when it faces stiff competition from Apple's iPhone and other rivals. A significant portion of Samsung come from its mobile business accounts. But it will also pressure gadget makers to learn how to build safer batteries for ever-smaller devices.
