Definition of Batteries and Their Types – Battery is a device that can convert the chemical energy it stores into electrical energy that can be used by an electronic device. Almost all portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, flashlights, or remote control use batteries as a source of electricity. With the battery, we do not need to connect the power cable to be able to activate our electronic devices so that it can be easily carried everywhere. In our daily lives, we can find two types of batteries, namely batteries that can only be used once (Single Use) and batteries that can be recharged ( Rechargeable ).
Types of Batteries
Each battery consists of a Positive Terminal and a Negative Terminal (Anode) as well as an electrolyte that serves as a delivery. The output of electric current from the battery is direct current or also called DC current. In general, batteries consist of 2 main types, namely primary batteries that can only be used (single use battery) and secondary batteries that can be recharged (rechargeable battery).
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Primary Battery (Single Use Battery)
Primary batteries are the most commonly found batteries on the market, almost all stores and supermarkets sell them. This is due to its wide use at a more affordable price. This type of battery generally provides a voltage of 1.5 Volts and consists of various types of sizes such as AAA (very small), AA (small) and C (medium) and D (large). In addition, there is also a box-shaped Primary Battery with a voltage of 6 Volts or 9 Volts.
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The types of batteries that fall into the Category of Primary Batteries (Single Use) include:
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Zinc-Carbon (Zinc-Carbon) Batteries
Zinc-Carbon batteries are also called “Heavy Duty” batteries that we often find in stores or supermarkets. This type of battery consists of Zinc material that serves as a Negative Terminal and also as a battery wrapper. While the Positive Terminal is made of Carbon in the form of Rods (rods). Zinc-Carbon batteries are a relatively inexpensive type of battery compared to other types.
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Alkaline Batteries
Alkaline batteries have a longer durability at a higher price compared to Zinc-Carbon Batteries. The electrolyte it uses is Potassium hydroxide which is an Alkaline Substance so its name is also called Alkaline Battery. Today, many batteries use Alkalline as an electrolyte, but they use other active ingredients as their electrodes.
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Lithium Batteries
Lithium Primer batteries offer better performance than other types of Primary (disposable) batteries. Lithium batteries can be stored for more than 10 years and can work at very low temperatures. Because of its advantages, lithium batteries are often used for memory backup applications on microcomputers and watches. Lithium batteries are usually made like a form of coin or also called a coin battery. There are also those who call it Button Cell or Button Battery.
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Silver Oxide Battery
Silver Oxide batteries are a type of battery that is quite expensive in price. This is due to the high price of Silver. Silver Oxide batteries can be made to produce high energy but with a relatively small and lightweight shape. Silver Oxide batteries are often made in the form of Coin Batteries / Button Cells. Silver Oxide batteries are often used in watches, calculators and military applications.
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Secondary Battery (Rechargeable Battery)
Secondary batteries are a type of rechargeable battery. In principle, the way secondary batteries generate electric current is the same as primary batteries. It’s just that, the Chemical Reaction in secondary batteries can be reversed (Reversible). When the battery is used by connecting the load to the battery terminal (discharge), electrons will flow from Negative to Positive. While when the Outer Energy Source (Charger) is connected to the Secondary Battery, electrons will flow from Positive to Negative so that there is a charge on the battery. Types of rechargeable batteries that we often find include Ni-cd (Nickel-Cadmium), Ni-MH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) and Li-Ion (Lithium-Ion) batteries.
The types of batteries that fall into the Category of Secondary Batteries (Rechargeable Batteries) include:
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Ni-Cd battery (Nickel-Cadmium)
Ni-Cd (NIcket-Cadmium) batteries are a type of secondary (rechargeable) battery that uses Nickel Oxide Hydroxide and Metallic Cadmium as its electrolyte material. Ni-Cd batteries have the ability to operate within a wide range of temperature and long endurance cycles. On the one hand, ni-cd batteries will self-discharge about 30% per month when not in use. Ni-Cd batteries also contain 15% tosik /toxins, carcinogenic Cadmium that can harm human health and the environment. Currently, the use and sale of Ni-Cd (Nickel-Cadmiun) batteries in consumer portable devices has been banned by the European Union under the regulations of “Directive 2006/66/EC” otherwise known as the “Battery Directive”.
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Ni-MH Battery (Nickel-Metal Hydride)
Ni-MH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) batteries have almost the same advantages as Ni-Cd, but Ni-MH batteries have a capacity of 30% higher than Ni-Cd batteries and do not have harmful substances Cadmium that can damage the environment and human health. Ni-MH batteries can be recharged up to hundreds of times so as to save costs in purchasing batteries. Ni-MH batteries have a self-discharge of about 40% each month if not in use. Currently Ni-MH batteries are widely used in cameras and radio communications. Although it does not have the harmful substance Cadmium, Ni-MH batteries still contain a small amount of harmful substances that can damage human health and the environment, so it needs to be recycled and should not be thrown away anywhere.
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Li-Ion (Lithium-Ion) Batteries
Li-Ion (Lithium-Ion) batteries are the most widely used battery in portable electronics such as digital cameras, mobile phones, video cameras or laptops. Li-Ion batteries have a high cycle life and are also about 30% lighter and provide a higher capacity of about 30% when compared to Ni-MH Batteries. The self-discharge ratio is about 20% per month. Li-Ion batteries are more environmentally friendly because they do not contain the harmful substance Cadmium. Just like Ni-MH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) Batteries, although they do not have Cadmium harmful substances, Li-Ion Batteries still contain a small amount of harmful substances that can damage human health and the environment, so it needs to be recycled and should not be thrown away anywhere
