Chemistry › Section Q · Electrochemistry › Topic Q.5
Batteries and fuel cells
Phones, cars and spacecraft all carry galvanic cells engineered for one job each: cheap single use, high current, light weight, or a steady supply from a fuel tank. The chemistry of each design explains its voltage, its lifetime and its limits.
In this topic
- What makes a battery
- Alkaline batteries
- The lead-acid battery
- Worked example: a car battery's voltage and energy
- Lithium-ion batteries
- Recharging: running a cell backwards
- Fuel cells
- Worked example: maximum work from hydrogen
- Energy density and choosing a source
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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