Electric batteries - Zinc batteries

The family of zinc-anode batteries covers a fairly wide range of uses. While salt batteries (Zn/MnO ₂ ) are best suited to intermittent applications requiring little power, alkaline batteries (Zn/MnO ₂ ) power small motors. Zinc-silver oxide batteries, which allow high discharge rates, will be reserved, due to the cost of silver, for the production of high-performance batteries. Zinc-mercury oxide batteries, often replaced by silver batteries which are less polluting for the environment, are of particular interest in high-temperature applications and storage (tropical temperatures). Zinc-air batteries, which have the lowest running costs, are reserved for applications requiring long discharge times at relatively low speeds.

The aim of this article is to present the characteristics of these different batteries.

The complete study of the subject includes the articles :

• – Electric batteries. General presentation ;

• D 3 321 – Electric batteries. Zinc batteries (this article) ;

• – Electric batteries. Lithium batteries ;

• – Electric batteries. Activatable batteries ;

• – Electric batteries.