Batteries: Types and History
A Condensed History of Batteries by the Edison Tech Center


An Exide nickel iron battery from 1934 (wet cell)

A battery is an electrochemical device which converts chemical process into electric energy. It is self contained unlike a fuel cell. It uses an electrochemical cell or cells. A cell is built using electrodes (a rod for example) separated from another electrode of a different metal or carbon with an electrolyte in between. With the right materials one can create a built up charge on one electrode, in other words negatively charged ions are attracted to the cathode (-), meanwhile positively charged ions are attracted to the anode(+) (the other electrode).


Major Types of Batteries and Years of Invention:

Primary Batteries:(cannot be recharged)

Zinc Chloride
Zinc Carbon
Alkaline
Oxy nickel hydroxide
Lithium Copper Oxide
Lithium Iron Disulfide
Lithium Iron sulfide
Lithium Maganese Dioxide
Lithium Copper oxyphosphate
Lithium Silver oxide+vanadium
Lithium Silver chromate
Lithium Carbon monofluoride pentoxide (SVO)
Li-I2
Li-CuO
Li-CuS

Li-MnO2 (Li-Mn, "CR")
Thionyl chloride
Li-SOCl2,BrCl, Li-BCX
Sulfuryl chloride
Li-SO2
Li-PbCuS
Li-Bi2Pb2O5
Li-V2O5
Li-Bi2O3
Li-CoO2
Mercury Oxide
Zinc-air
Silver Oxide
Plutonium batteries and
other nuclear batteries

 

Secondary Batteries: (can be recharged)

NiCd or NiCad Nickel-cadmium 1899
Lead Acid 1859
NiMH
NiZn
Alkaline (some are rechargable)
Lithium-ion Li-ion
Lithium-ion polymer
Lithium titanium oxide
Lithium iron-phosphate Batteries
Lithium iron magnesium phosphate
Nickel-iron Batteries (NiFe)
NIH2
Ni-zinc
LiFePO4
Li sulfur
Li titanate
Thin film Li
ZnBr
V redox 10
NaS
Molten salt
Silver zinc (Ag-zinc)

Early History of Batteries:

The first battery 248 BC: The Bagdad Battery was built in the Parthian or Sassanid period 248 BC - 226 AD. The battery consisted of a carbon rod in the center of a clay vase. The rod was surrounded by an unknown electrolyte, then copper, then asphaltum. Each battery had a weight of about 2 kilograms and produced 0.4-0.5 volts with open contacts. These batteries were very weak. The "Bagdad Battery" was found in 1936 and is believed to be authentic by many reputable sources.

The Egyptians: Some claim that the ancient Egyptians had batteries similar to the Bagdad Battery.

The Ark of the Covenant: It has been theorized that the Ark of the Covenant (a gold lined box) may have used early batteries to energize the gold exterior. The box would then be able to give the illusion of magic powers by shocking those who touched it. This is only a theory, but an interesting use of electricity to create a sense of awe and fear.

Alessandro Volta of Como, Italy created the first modern battery in 1800. He had a background of chemistry and physics and taught at the Public School and later the Royal School in Como. He used a zinc and copper electrode with an electrolyte of sulphuric acid or a brine mixture (salt and water). The zinc reacted with the negatively charged sulfate. The positively charged hydrogen ions grab electrons from the copper forming hydrogen gas. The zinc rod then became the negative electrode and the copper rod positive. Volta's first battery was a result of 9 years of study starting with "animal electricity" or the study of electrical current within the body.


A 1934 battery used to run a Detroit Electric Car from 1914. The mercury arc rectifier was used to recharge the first electric car's batteries.

 


A Nickel-cadmium Battery, D cell


The AA alkaline is the most common disposable battery in the world

Modern Batteries:

Today there are more than 50 different variations of batteries. There about 10 different kinds of primary batteries, and 5 types of rechargeable batteries.

Primary Batteries - this type of battery is ready with electrical charge as soon as it is constructed

Secondary Batteries - this type of battery must be charged after it is constructed

Wet Cell - The wet cell battery uses a liquid electrolyte. The electrolyte immerses the other parts of the cell. A car battery is a wet cell, you can hear the liquid slosh around when it is shaken. These batteries are prone to spilling. The early Edison batteries used thick glass housing to hold the potassium hydroxide electrolyte.

Dry Cell - The dry cell uses a moist paste as the electrolyte. This battery can be inverted without risk of spilling. The gel-cell battery was developed to reduce the danger of acid spilling from the lead acid battery.

1859 - Gaston Plante of France invents the most commonly used large battery today: the lead acid battery.


The Lithium Ion Battery (Li-ion) is the most popular battery for mobile phones and cameras due to a good energy density (power stored vs. weight)
 


Most Batteries are similar in construction to above, they have two plates of different metals with a seperator in between. An electrolyte immerses the cell. Batteries can go bad over time when the electrolyte fluid or paste dries out. Some batteries are round, the two plates and separator are rolled into a more compact form.

 

For continued learning we recommend wikipedia. Watch the videos below to get a more interactive experience.

Testing Lithium Batteries in Dr. Andy Burke's Lab: Three Types of Li Batteries



Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries:

 

Coming soon: a video on the history of the GE battery business by Dr. Oliver Winn

Below: The Baker Electric Car used Edison lead-acid batteries in 1901

 

 

 

We will expand this page over time.

Sources:

Video and photos and graphics by the Edison Tech Center
Research: Rick Delair, M.Whelan, Wikipedia Batteries
Lead Acid Batteries, Electropaedia

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copyright 2010 Edison Tech Center

 

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