In depth discussion of selected phenomena associated with intrinsic battery hysteresis: Battery electrode versus rubber balloons

•Insertion into battery particles is compared with inflation of rubber balloons.•Both systems exhibit a finite hysteresis during “cycling”, even at very low rates.•At slow rates both systems are “filled/emptied” in a one-by-one fashion.•The phenomenon is expected whenever there is a supersaturation of charge.•In balloons the phase transition-like is due to monotone pressure–volume curve.

We discuss in considerable detail selected phenomena that are supposed to be associated with intrinsic hysteresis of insertion type of batteries. We take advantage of the previously mentioned full analogy between the hysteretic behaviour of insertion battery electrodes and an ensemble of interconnected ordinary rubber balloons. This analogy is particularly helpful because direct observation of effects in balloons is much easier. In particular, we try to present in a clearer way the so-called “one-by-one” insertion or deinsertion mechanism in the case of small charge/discharge (inflation/deflation) rates. The various stages of lithium insertion into a single particle (single balloon) are extensively compared to those occurring in a multiparticle (multibaloon). Similar effects can be predicted for other systems of interconnected units in which supersaturation can occur before the units undergo a phase- or similar transformation of state.