When did batteries first come out?

Before Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity in the 1740s, the concept of batteries may have already been in existence, since as early as 2,000 years ago. In 1983, a group of archaeologists have discovered a collection of terracotta jars in Khujut Rabu, a village near Baghdad. The jars contained sheets of copper rolled up with an iron rod.

Why are batteries important in the 21st century?

Batteries power our world and their relevance will continue to grow as further innovations are made in fields like electric vehicles and the Internet of Things (IoT). The humble battery is by far one of the most crucial enabling technologies of the 21 st Century.

Are next-generation batteries the future of energy storage?

The world needs more power. While lithium-ion is currently shaping our energy storage strategies and is at the cutting edge of it, researchers are actively looking for next-generation batteries to take energy storage to the next level in increasingly demanding and complex applications such as wearable consumer devices and electric vehicles.

When was a lithium ion battery invented?

The first commercial production of the lithium-ion battery was achieved by Sony in 1991. Since then, it has been the go-to standard for most battery-dependent applications. It is not the only option though, and other batteries were widely used (and still are today in a limited capacity) before it.

Why is a battery important?

The battery is one of the most important man-made inventions all throughout history. Today, it is generally used as a portable source of power, but in the past, batteries were our only source of electricity. Without its conception, modern comforts such as computers, vehicles and communication devices may not have been possible.

How did Thomas Edison make a battery?

A famous American scientist, Thomas Edison, picked up the nickel-iron cell Jungner designed and created another patented version of it. Edison made use of an alkaline cell with iron as the anode and nickel oxide as the cathode. He also made use of potassium chloride as conductor. The Edison battery was initially aimed for automobiles.