18.2 Battery History
lAlessandro Volta made
primary batteries of dissimilar metals (silver, zinc, and a salt water wet paper between them)
about 1800 (try touching a
dime and a nickel in contact to your
tongue)
uThey were
“piled” up, and became known as a voltaic pile (from whence came the atomic pile)
lJohann Ritter
developed a rechargeable (secondary) cell about 1802, but there was no generator to recharge them
yet
lGeorge
Leclanche’ “wet” cells used carbon rods and zinc
uHe made a wet paste that could be sealed into the cell, thus making a convenient portable energy source; no
spilling
lIn 1860, the secondary or rechargeable battery was further developed by Raymond Gaston
Planté (lead sheets & acid)
lA lead paste on the plates provided more active surface area
and allowed longer discharge life in 1881 (Faure)
lGermans made the gel-cell with a sealed case in 1960
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