History and origin of Batteries

Discovering the Principle of Battery:

Luigi Galvani, an Italian biologist, discovered in 1780 that when two different types of metal came into contact with the leg of a dead frog, an electrical current ran between them, causing the leg to twitch. According to some, this represents the initial understanding of the battery's operating principle.

Battery invented by Volta

When copper and zinc are combined in an electrolyte solution, such as diluted sulfuric acid or saline solution, copper atoms hardly change at all, but zinc atoms change, and electrons flow out.

As a result, when the two are connected by a conductor, electricity flows from the copper to the zinc. The copper now serves as a positive (+) pole and the zinc serves as a negative (-) pole. This is the Volta battery, which served as the prototype for later chemical batteries. The battery was given its name in honor of Alessandro Volta, an Italian who made the discovery.

Leclanche Cell – origin of today’s dry cells

Then, in 1868, Georges Leclanché, a Frenchman, created the "Leclanché cell." The ammonium chloride solution would spill, making it difficult to use. This was the precursor to dry batteries as we know them today.

Dry Battery invented by Gassener

A battery with no chance of the solution spilling was created in 1888 by a German named Carl Gassner. Gassner's creation was referred to as the "dry cell" or "dry battery" because it would not leak even though it contained a liquid.

Invention of today’s storage battery by Junger

The nickel-cadmium battery was developed by Swedish engineer Waldemar Jungner in 1899. As the precursor to the storage battery used today, this battery was revolutionary.

Invention of Ni-Fe storage battery by Edison

Thomas Edison, a great inventor who is also credited with commercializing filament lamps, created the nickel-iron storage battery in 1900. Its name is Edison battery.

Timeline of Batteries