A simple
history of batteries

With so much power crammed into such a small body, batteries are truly a result of human knowledge. Here, you can quickly breeze through the history of this technology.

Lecture.01 Discovering the principle Lecture.02 Volta discovers the battery Lecture.03 Leclanché cells and dry batteries

Discovering the principle

In 1780, an Italian biologist called Luigi Galvani discovered that when two different types of metal came into contact with a dead frog’s leg, an electrical current ran between them and caused the leg to twitch. This is said to mark the first discovery of the principle behind batteries.

The "Baghdad Battery" ‐ ceramic pot battery and the world's oldest A "ceramic pot battery" was discovered in the remains of Khujut Rabu, a village in the outskirts of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.This battery is more than 2,000 years old. It was thought that it was used for metallic plating, rather than as a battery to generate electricity.The voltage would have been about 1.5‐2 volts. It is not known exactly what the electrolyte solution would have been, but we can imagine that they might have used vinegar or wine.

Volta Discovers the battery

When copper and zine are placed into an electrolyte solution like dilute sulfuric acid or saline solution, the copper atoms barely break down at all, but the zinc atoms break down and electrons flow out. So the copper becomes a positive (+) pole and the zine a negative (‐) pole, and when the two are joined by a conductor, electricity flows from the copper to the zinc. This is the Volta battery, which forms the basis for modern chemical batteries. It was discovered by another Italian named Alessandro Volta, whom the battery was named after, in 1800.

Leclanché cells and dry batteries

Then, in 1868, a Frenchman called Georges Leclanché invented the "Leclanché cell".This was the origin of today’s dry batteries, but it could be inconvenient to use as its ammonium chloride solution would spill over.

In 1888, a German called Carl Gassner invented a battery where there was no risk of the solution spilling. Because the battery would not spill even though it contained a liquid, Gassner’s invention became known as the "dry cell" or "dry battery".

  1. 1760
  2. 1765
  3. 1780
  4. 1800
  5. 1825
  6. 1859
  7. 1868
  8. 1872
  9. 1885
  10. 1888
  11. 1899
  12. 1900
  13. 1903
  14. 1925
  15. 1941
  16. 1945
  17. 1953
  18. 1955
  19. 1958
  20. 1964
  21. 1967
  22. 1969
  23. 1970
  24. 1971
  25. 1976
  26. 1977
  27. 1985
  28. 1986
  29. 1988
  30. 1989
  31. 1991
  32. 1992
  33. 1993
  34. 1995
  35. 1997

  1. Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    Industrial revolution begins in UK

  2. Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    Watt (UK) invents the steam engine

  3. History of batteries

    Galvani (Italy) discovers the principle behind batteries

  4. History of batteries

    Volta (Italy) invents the battery

  5. Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    Stephenson's steam locomotive makes first journey

  6. History of batteries

    Gaston Planté (France) invents lead acid storage battery

  7. History of batteries

    Leclanché (France) invents original version of today's dry batteries



    Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    Meiji Restoration

  8. Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    Railway opened between Shimbashi and Yokohama

  9. History of batteries

    Sakizo Yai invents dry battery

  10. History of batteries

    Gassner (Germany), Hellesens (Denmark) invent dry battery

  11. History of batteries

    Jungner (Sweden)invents nickel‐cadmium storage battery

  12. History of batteries

    Edison (USA) invents nickel-iron storage battery

  13. Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    Wright brothers (USA) make first successful aircraft flight

  14. Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    Radio broadcasting launched in Japan

  15. Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    Japan enters Second World War

  16. Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    End of Second World War

  17. Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    NHK launches regular television broadcasts

  18. History of batteries

    Mercury battery production launched in Japan



    Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    First transistor radio sold in Japan

  19. Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    USSR successfully launches satellite

  20. Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    First home appliances boom

  21. History of batteries

    Alkaline battery production launched in Japan Ni‐Cd battery production launched in Japan High‐performance dry battery production launched in Japan



    Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    Tokyo Olympics held

  22. History of batteries

    Compact sealed lead acid storage batteries developed

  23. History of batteries

    Ultra high‐performance dry battery production launched in Japan



    Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    USA puts a man on the moon

  24. Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    Expo held in Osaka, Japan

  25. History of batteries

    Lithium primary battery Graphite fluoride BR line developed

  26. History of batteries

    Silver oxide battery/lithium primary battery production launched in Japan

  27. History of batteries

    Alkaline button battery production launched in Japan

  28. History of batteries

    Zinc-air battery production launched in Japan



    Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    Tsukuba science technology Expo held

  29. History of batteries

    Battery association launches "Battery Day"

  30. Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    Great Seto Bridge, Seikan Tunnel opened

  31. History of batteries

    Nickel-metal hydride battery developed

  32. History of batteries

    Mercury‐free manganese dry batteries achieved Recycling mark displayed on Ni‐Cd batteries



    Chemical technology history / Japanese history

    Law for the Promotion of Utilization of Recycled Resources　announced

  33. History of batteries

    Mercury‐free alkaline dry batteries achieved Lithium‐ion batteries developed

  34. History of batteries

    Recommended use-by dates displayed

  35. History of batteries

    Japanese manufacturers cease production of mercury batteries

  36. History of batteries

    Recycling launched for small secondary batteries "Battery Month" launched at Battery Association of Japan (November 11 to December 12)

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How will batteries be developed and advanced in future? Let's all keep an eye out for further developments. It's time to end the lesson now, so I will hand over to another lecturer.