Types of Dry Cell

There are mainly two types of electric cells:

• Primary Cell: Dry cell, Daniell cell, Voltaic cell etc.
• Secondary Cell: Lead acid cell, nickel cadmium cell etc.

Primary Cell

Primary cell or battery is one that cannot be easily recharged after one use, and is discarded after being discharged. These cells are not chargeable because the electrode reaction occurs only once and after some period of use the battery becomes dead and cannot be reused.

Example: Dry cell, mercury cell and Daniel cell etc. are examples of primary cells.

Types of Primary Cells

There are following types of primary cells

1. Dry Cell
2. Leclanche Cell
3. Rechargeable Cell
4. Lithium Cell
5. Zinc Chloride Cell
6. Silver Oxide Cell
7. Bunsen Cell
8. Voltaic Cell
9. Nickel Cadmium Cell
10. Alkaline Cell
11. Mercury Cell

Dry Cell: Dry cell consists of a metal container in which a low moisture electrolyte paste covers graphite rods or metal electrodes.

Leclanche Cell: Leclanche cell is a primary cell, which converts the chemical energy stored in it into electrical energy.

Rechargeable Cell: A rechargeable battery is an energy storage device that can be recharged after being discharged by applying DC current to its terminals.

Lithium Cell: A rechargeable battery that uses lithium ions as the primary component of the electrolyte. Note: Lithium-ion batteries are common in portable electronic devices such as cell phones and laptop computers.

Zinc Chloride Cell: Zinc-chloride cells (usually marketed as “heavy duty” batteries) use high concentrations of anolyte (or anode electrolyte) that is primarily zinc chloride, which can produce more consistent voltage output in high drain applications.

Silver Oxide Cell: The excellent properties of silver oxide-zinc alkaline cell are its low weight, high current capacity, constant voltage and high efficiency at low temperatures. It is a primary cell of low shelf life that contains an alkaline KOH electrolyte that is added immediately before use.

Bunsen Cell: Bunsen cell is an elementary zinc-carbon cell composed of a zinc anode in dilute sulfuric acid separated from a carbon cathode in nitric or chromic acid by a porous pot.

Voltaic Cell: A voltaic cell is an electrochemical cell that produces electrical energy using a chemical reaction. Oxidation and reduction reactions are divided into half the cell compartments.

Nickel Cadmium Cell:Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries are direct competitors with lead-acid batteries as these batteries offer similar technical characteristics but with better cycling capability and energy density. In NiCd batteries, nickel oxide hydroxide is used to make the cathode, and the anode is made from the metal cadmium.

Alkaline Cell: Alkaline batteries are disposable batteries with electrodes made of zinc and manganese dioxide. Potassium or sodium hydroxide alkaline electrolyte is used. These batteries have a constant voltage and are more energy dense and leak resistant than carbon zinc batteries.

Mercury Cell: Mercury cell is a type of dry cell which has zinc anode, mercuric oxide cathode and potassium hydroxide as electrolyte.

Secondary Cell or Storage Cell

Secondary Cell can be reused after use by recharging it by passing an electric current in the opposite direction. A good storage cell can go through several cycles of charging and discharging. The different types of secondary cell are discussed below:

Lead Accumulator Cell

Lead accumulator cells are commonly used in vehicles and inverters. In this, the anode is made of lead and the cathode is a grid filled with lead dioxide (PbO₂). 38% H₂SO₄ solution works as an electrolyte.

Nickel Cadmium cell

Nickel Cadmium Cell is a type of accumulator cell, which has a longer life than the lead accumulator cell, but its manufacturing cost is higher. In this cell, nickel 3rd compound of cadmium metal anode acts as cathode.

Lithium-Ion Battery

Lithium-ion is the widest used among all rechargeable battery chemistries. We use Lithium Ion batteries on a daily basis. Our mobile phones and electric cars are powered by lithium-ion batteries.

Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery

Rechargeable nickel-metal hydride batteries (NiMH) are prevalent in many laptop computers, mobile phones and webcams among several other electronic devices.

A NiMH battery negative electrode is typically a hydrogen-absorbing alloy and sometimes several different intermetallic compounds.

Dry Cell is a portable electrochemical cell invented by German scientist Carl Gassner in 1888. Unlike traditional wet cells, a dry cell features a paste or gel-like electrolyte, eliminating the risk of leakage and enhancing portability. It is commonly used in household essentials such as flashlights and remote controls. Dry Cells are reliable and convenient energy storage devices.

In this article, we will read in detail about the dry cell, its components, working, chemical reactions inside it, its advantages, and uses.