Get to know the different battery types

We use all sorts of batteries every day, all based on the principle developed by the battery inventor, Alessandro Volta, that chemical energy can be converted into a constant, steady supply of electrical energy and used to power external devices.

Commonly, two different metals (electrodes) are immersed in an electrolyte, electrons are released from one (positive electrode) by a chemical reaction and flow through the electrolyte to the other (negative electrode). External wiring connects your device to form a circuit through which the electricity flows to power it.

An exciting development in recent years has been photovoltaics, which convert sunlight energy into electricity.

Chargeable or not?

One major distinction between different types of battery is whether or not they are rechargeable.

‘Primary’ cells, for example, the inexpensive AA, C and D dry cell batteries used in torches, games and your remote control, only produce electricity – once their components have been used up by the chemical reaction, that’s it! They’re then best taken to your local recycling centre.
‘Secondary’ cells, or accumulators, can be recharged. Their chemical reaction is reversible – by applying current to the battery the flow of electrons is reversed, so regenerating it ready for another use. So they’re cheaper overall and now have many common usages. Think of car batteries, your mobile phone and MP3 player.

Photovoltaics – solar batteries

Photovoltaic (or solar) batteries convert sunlight into electricity using a semiconductor material such as silicon, and could well replace the conventional battery for many devices in the future.

Check out the internet

There’s a wealth of information to be found on the internet about different battery types and advances in their technology. But those that know about us at Battery Life tend not to bother looking any further!