battery

(noun)

A device that produces electricity by a chemical reaction between two substances.

Related Terms

Examples of battery in the following topics:

  • Mercury Battery

    • Mercury batteries were a common electrochemical battery that were phased out of mainstream use in the U.S. by the 1996 Battery Act.
    • A mercury battery, also called a mercuric oxide battery or a mercury cell, is a non-rechargeable electrochemical battery.
    • Although these batteries were very common in the mid-20th century, the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act (the Battery Act) passed in 1996 in the United States has largely phased out mercury batteries due to environmental concerns.
    • This resulted from the disposal of mercury in single-use batteries, as well as of other toxic metal content such as lead from lead-acid batteries and the cadmium in rechargeable batteries.
    • This is a small watch mercury battery.

  • Other Rechargeable Batteries

    • A rechargeable battery is a type of electrical battery that is comprised of one or more electrochemical cells.
    • The U.S. demand for rechargeable batteries is growing twice as fast as the demand for non-rechargeable batteries, in part because rechargeable batteries have lower environmental impact and total cost of use than do disposable batteries.
    • As with all batteries, rechargeable batteries consist of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte.
    • Lead-acid batteries, invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté, are the oldest type of rechargeable battery.
    • Lithium ion batteries are more expensive than NiCd batteries but operate over a wider temperature range while being smaller and lighter.

  • The Lithium-Ion Battery

    • Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries commonly used in consumer electronics; they rely on Li+ migration.
    • Lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion batteries, or LIBs) are a family of rechargeable batteries in which lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharge.
    • The ions follow the reverse path when the battery is charging.
    • Li-ion batteries use a lithium compound as the electrode material.
    • Lithium-ion batteries are common in consumer electronics.

  • Dry Cell Battery

    • The development of the dry-cell battery allowed for a major advance in battery safety and portability.
    • A common dry-cell battery is the zinc-carbon battery, which uses a cell that is sometimes called the Leclanché cell.
    • Another example of a dry-cell battery is the alkaline battery.
    • Alkaline batteries are almost the same as zinc-carbon batteries, except that the electrolyte used is potassium hydroxide (KOH) rather than ammonium chloride.
    • Between them, the electrolyte paste works as the battery.

  • Lead Storage Battery

    • A lead storage battery, also known as a lead-acid battery, is the oldest type of rechargeable battery and one of the most common energy storage devices.
    • Lead-acid batteries have moderate power density and good response time.
    • Camille Alphonse Faure's pasted-plate construction is typical of automotive batteries today.
    • Once dry, the plates are stacked with suitable separators and inserted into the battery container.
    • This type of battery can be recharged.

  • Fuel Cells

    • Fuel cells are a compelling alternative to batteries, but they are still in the early stages of development.
    • Fuel cells are different from batteries in that they require a constant source of fuel and oxygen to run, but they can produce electricity continually for as long as these inputs are supplied.
    • The development of miniature fuel cells can provide a cheap, efficient, and reusable alternative to batteries.
    • If the electricity produced by clean, renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, is used to produce hydrogen, the energy can be stored more easily than in large battery complexes.

  • Doping: Connectivity of Semiconductors

    • However, if the cathode of a battery is connected to the p-type semiconductor, and the anode is connected to the n-type semiconductor, the system is said to be "forward biased."
    • If the connectivity is reversed, with the battery anode connected to the p-type semiconductor and the cathode connected to the n-type semiconductor, the system is said to be "reverse biased" and negligible charge flows across the junction.
    • If the battery anode is connected to the p-type semiconductor and the cathode connected to the n-type semiconductor, the system is said to be reverse biased and negligible current passes.
    • If the cathode of a battery is connected to the p-type semiconductor while the anode is connected to the n-type semiconductor, the system is said to be forward biased and current flows through the junction.

  • Electrolytic Properties

    • In batteries for example, two materials with different electron affinities are used as electrodes: outside the battery, electrons flow from one electrode to the other; inside, the circuit is closed by the electrolyte's ions.

  • Voltaic Cells

    • A battery is a set of voltaic cells that are connected in parallel.
    • For instance, a lead–acid battery has cells with the anodes composed of lead and cathodes composed of lead dioxide.

  • Aluminum

    • The simplest and safest way is to connect a battery to the sample and perform electrolysis under either an inert atmosphere (like argon gas) or vacuum conditions.