Historical development of the battery (Glossary)

Although the first electrical cells probably go back over 2,000 years, like the so-called 'Baghdad Battery', the history of the systematic investigation of electrical engineering and our current batteries begins with the Voltaic pile in 1800.

The purport of the Voltaic invention was immediately recognised by experts at that time and led to experiments, discoveries and inventions to an up to then unknown extent. Electrolysis, the electric arc, electromagnetism, Ohm's law, induction and much more was discovered at very short intervals. But the mystery of free electrons was not solved until the end of the 19th century, and with atomostics finally a comprehensive explanation of all known electrical phenomena.

The triumphant progress of the battery started straight away, and the Voltaic pile was imitated and improved world-wide for experiments. With the so-called Voltaic cell, Volta built an improved, low-maintenance battery that was later further developed by the English natural scientist William Wollaston (1766 - 1828) into a trough battery. The main feature of this type of battery was that the electrodes could be removed from the electrolyte when the battery was not in use to thus minimise spontaneous discharge and wear. Further improvements related to the choice of material for the electrodes and an optimised electrolyte.

In 1812 the Italian Guiseppe Zamponi developed the first portable and leak-proof battery, for very high voltages ( 2,000 volts) but only minuscule currents.

The Leclanché Element ('Pile Leclanché') of the French scientist Georges Leclanché (1839 - 1882) was the first battery that enjoyed widespread industrial use and domestic applications in 1860. This zinc-manganese battery was initially sold with a fluid electrolyte (ammonium chloride solution), and later (1876) as a 'dry battery' with a gel-like electrolyte.

Gaston Planté also developed the first accumulators in 1860. The inventor was clearly ahead of his times because the first industrially manufactured generators to charge this did not appear for another ten years. This type (lead accumulator with sulphuric acid electrolyte) of rechargeable battery is still the most popular type of accumulator.

In 1901, Waldemar Jungner (1869 - 1924) launched the nickel-cadmium accumulator onto the market, that started the triumphant advance in the consumer sector of portable devices.

© Marc Stenzel

	See also:
		Glossary overview Voltaic pile (Glossary) 'Baghdad battery' (Glossary)

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