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First battery description
Benjamin Franklin invented the term "Battery" to describe a collection of linked capacitors. -
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The cornerstone of research
Luigi Galvani demonstrated that nerve impulses are due to electricity and provided the cornerstone of research for subsequent inventors like Volta to create batteries. -
Voltaic Pile
Alessandro Volta invented the voltaic pile and discovered the first practical method of producing electricity. Constructed of alternating discs of zinc and copper with brine between the metals, the voltaic pile produced electric current. Alessandro Volta's voltaic cell was the first “wet cell battery” that produced a reliable and constant electric current. -
Daniel Cell
The Voltaic Pile could not deliver an electrical current for a long period of time. Englishman, John F. Daniell invented the Daniell Cell that used two electrolytes: copper sulfate and zinc sulfate. The Daniel Cell lasted longer than the Volta cell or pile. This battery, which produced about 1.1 volts, was used to power objects such as telegraphs, telephones, and doorbells, remained popular in homes for over 100 years. -
Fuell Cell
William Robert Grove developed the first fuel cell, which produced electrical by combining hydrogen and oxygen. -
Rechargeable battery
French inventor, Gaston Plante developed the first practical storage lead-acid battery that could be recharged (secondary battery). This type of battery is primarily used in cars today. -
Leclanche Carbon-Zinc Cell
The George Leclanche's original cell was assembled in a porous pot. He invented the first dry cell and improved design that was now transportable. -
Zinc-carbon cell
Carl Gassner invented the first commercially successful dry cell battery (zinc-carbon cell). -
Alkaline Storage
Thomas Alva Edison invented the alkaline storage battery. Thomas Edison's alkaline cell had iron as the anode material (-) and nickelic oxide as the cathode material (+). -
Alkaline-Manganese Battery
Lew Urry developed the small alkaline battery we know today. -
Solar Cells
Gerald Pearson, Calvin Fuller, and Daryl Chapin invented the first solar battery. A solar battery converts the sun's energy into electricity. -
Future use of the electric battery