I have a project that I am working on that requires the use of a rechargeable battery pack. The major issue I have is that the battery pack needs to be as slim as possible. So far all I could find are 3.7V single cell lithium-ion batteries. The project draws around 1A maximum or 500mA nominal current at an input voltage of 9 to 12V (anything in that range works.)
My design thoughts so far is that I could use three of these batteries wired in series. Additionally, I would like to use this charging IC.
According to the datasheet, it looks like this IC can handle more than one cell, which is exactly what I need. My plan is to use 3 of the cells I listed to achieve the required (minimum) 9V.
What precautions do I need to take in designing this circuit so that I do not have any explosions? Is this design feasible and are there any options for a slimmer battery pack?
Also, I have read about using boost, buck converters, etc. How would the use of such converters effect the battery life?
I simply want to explore my best option for this project.