What are Alkaline Battery?

What are Alkaline Battery?

Alkaline Battery Definition

An alkaline battery is defined as a type of battery that uses zinc and manganese dioxide as electrodes and potassium hydroxide as the electrolyte.

Working Principle

Alkaline batteries work based on the reaction between zinc (Zn) and manganese dioxide (MnO2), facilitated by the potassium hydroxide electrolyte.

Construction

The construction of an alkaline battery involves a steel drum cathode, zinc powder anode, manganese dioxide cathode mixture, a paper separator, and a negative collector pin.

Advantages

• high energy density

• This battery performs equally well in both continuous and intermittent applications

• This performs equally well in low and as well as high rate of discharge

• This also performs equally well at ambient temperature as well as at low temperature

• Alkaline battery has also low internal resistance

• Enough longer self life

• Leakage is low in this battery

• Better dimensional stability

Disadvantage

High cost

Applications

Alkaline batteries are used in various applications, including industrial trucks, mine locomotives, air conditioning systems, commercial airlines, and military airplanes.