Engineering Chemistry-I Notes

The various battery types listed on the site have the following features
and typical applications.
Alkaline

 Long-life batteries giving up to six times the life of ordinary zinc

carbon batteries.
 Ideal for appliances demanding a high current drain when being
used on an intermittent or continuous basis.

Zinc Chloride

 Designed to give significantly longer life than conventional zinc

carbon batteries at around half the cost of the long-life alkaline
batteries.
 Ideal for appliances demanding heavy or continuous use that
require low to medium power.

Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMh)

Major features

 High Capacity - GP NiMH batteries have high energy density and

deliver up to double the capacity of NiCd batteries of similar size.
 Superior high rate discharge characteristics - Up to 3C high rate
discharge is possible
 Broad operating temperature range - (-20 C to 60 C)
 Quick charging capability - Rapid charge in about one hour.
 Long service life - Under different usage conditions, GP NiMH
batteries can deliver 300-1000 charge/discharge cycles.
 Excellent overcharge endurance - GP NiMH batteries can be
continuously charged at 0.1C rate for one year without leakage or
deformation.
 Built-in saftely protection mechanism against misuse - A re-
sealable safety vent is built in to relieve internal pressure in case of
misuse. Polarity reversal and over discharge protection
mechanisms are also incorporated in the cell.
 Absolutely no memory effect - Discharge is not required before
charging.
 Environmentally friendlier - No cadmium, lead or mercury are
added.
 Comprehensive range - GP NiMH batteries comprise of a
comprehensive range of different cylindrical and prismatic sizes
catering for a wide range of applications.
 High reliability - GP NiMH batteries are produced with the best
available material and advanced technology, allowing them to
perform with outstanding reliability.
 ISO 9001 accreditation - Received for design and manufacture of
secondary and primary batteries in 1996.
Engineering Chemistry-I Notes

Major Applications

 Communications - Cellular phones, cordless phones, transceivers.

 Information devices - Notebook computers, personal digital
assistants(PDAs), portable facsimile machines.
 Audio and video devices - Digital video cameras, LCD TVs,
portable DVD, VCD, MD and CD players.
 Emergency lighting
 Remote controls & security systems
 Other applications - Remote control toys, shavers, massagers,
electric tooth brushes, handheld vacuum cleaners, power tools,
handheld terminals, electrical bicycles etc.

Nickel Cadmium (NiCd)

Major Features

 Long service life - Depending on usage conditions, GP NiCd

batteries can deliver 300 - 1000 charge / discharge cycles.
 Superior high rate discharge characteristics - Up to 2C high rate
discharge is possible.
 Quick charging capability - Rapid charge in about one hour.
 Excellent overcharge performance - GP NiCd batteries can be
continuously overcharged at O.1C rate for 28 days without leakage
or deformation.
 Built-in safety features against misuse - Built-in chemical
protection against polarity reversal or over discharge. A re-sealable
safety vent is incorporated to relieve internal pressure in case of
misuse.
 No memory effect - Unlike sintered type rechargeable cells, GP
NiCd batteries produced with modern foam electrode technology
do not exhibit memory effect.
 High reliability - GP NiCd batteries are manufactured with the best
available material using state of the art technology allowing them
to perform with outstanding reliability.

Major Applications

 Communications - Cellular phones, cordless phones, pager and

transceivers.
 Information devices - Notebook computers, personal digital
assistants(PDAs), portable facsimile machines.
 Audio and video devices - Digital video cameras, LCD TVs,
portable DVD, VCD, MD and CD players.
 Emergency lighting
 Remote controls & security systems<
 Other applications - Remote control toys, shavers, massagers,
electric tooth brushes, handheld vacuum cleaners, power tools,
handheld terminals, electrical bicycles, memory back-up etc.
Engineering Chemistry-I Notes

Rechargeable Alkaline

 Offers the benefits of standard Alkaline cells but with rechargeable

capability.
 Also more beneficial than NiMH cells due to; 1.5v, initially fully
charged
 Can be stored up to 7 years charged
 Can be charged 50 times (although a 500 times may be possible)
 N.B. These batteries can only be charged using an Alkaline
Battery Charger.

Silver Oxide

 Silver oxide batteries have the most stable voltage characteristics

among all types of button-type batteries, as well as delivering the
highest performance
 Silver oxide batteries use silver oxide for the positive active
material. The negative active material is zinc, and the electrolyte is
potassium hydroxide
 Because of the use of these materials, the silver oxide batteries
have a higher operating voltage and an extremely stable power
supply. The nominal open-circuit voltage is 1.55 volts
 Silver oxide batteries are also far superior in heavy drain uses and
suitable for the use in cameras and exposure meters.

Lithium Ion

 Compared with Ni-MH and Ni-Cd batteries of the same sizes or

weights, Lithium Ion batteries are designed to deliver the highest
energy output<
 A single cell voltage is 3.7V, 3 times that of Ni-MH batteries. It
means a simpler battery configuration and better space utilization
for low cell voltages.
 Graphite type negative electrode has a steady discharge voltage
essential for electronic equipment.
 It can be charged in about 1-2 hours.
 Lithium Ion batteries can be charged or discharged up to 300 -
1000 times under normal conditions
 No memory effect - Li Ion batteries can be recharged after partial
discharge without experiencing the memory effect of Ni-Cd
batteries
 Most Lithium Ion batteries are designed and built with internal
safety features to resist physical abuse and to prevent overcharge
and over current.
 Li Ion batteries contain no toxic heavy metals, such as mercury,
cadmium or lead
 Every battery requires two electrodes — an anode and a cathode — and an
electrolyte. Electrons flow between the electrodes outside the battery and through the
electrolyte inside the battery. The closed circuit created by these two electron flows
use up the chemical energy of the electrolyte and produce electrical power in the
Engineering Chemistry-I Notes

process. This process is the same, whether it takes place in an alkaline battery or in a
zinc-carbon battery.
 In an alkaline battery, the anode, or the positive electrode of the battery, is comprised
of zinc powder. Zinc is used in a powder form because the granules have a high
surface area, allowing for an increased rate of reaction and higher electron flows. Zinc
oxide is sometimes added to limit the corrosion of the anode.
 Manganese dioxide is used as the cathode, or negative electrode. It occurs in nature
as the mineral pyrolusite, and is typically used in a powder form as well. Graphite is
also added to the cathode, to improve conductivity.
 Potassium hydroxide is used as the electrolyte in an alkaline battery, not ammonium
chloride or zinc chloride — the electrolytes used commonly with zinc-carbon
batteries. Potassium hydroxide is also known as caustic potash or potash lye. While
alkaline batteries are ensconced in a casing they are still capable of leaking potassium
hydroxide, which is known to cause eye and skin irritation.
 Additionally, an alkaline battery includes a separator. This component of an alkaline
battery serves to separate the electrolyte between the positive and negative electrodes.
 When compared with a zinc-carbon battery, its main competitor, an alkaline battery
has a higher energy density, as well as a longer shelf-life. However, alkaline batteries
have high internal resistance. The faster that an alkaline battery is drained, the lower
the capacity or load that the battery can handle