| The AAA battery is a small device capable of storing | | | | construction of the AAA battery did commence |
| chemical energy. The modern AAA battery can | | | | much later than 640 BC. In 1745, Ewald Jürgen |
| actually trace its history very far back in history. At | | | | Georg von Kleist constructed a form of capacitor |
| some point between 640 BC and 250 BC, the very | | | | that became known as "the Leyden jar". In 1748, |
| first known battery was created. These early | | | | Benjamin Franklin devoted himself to the study of |
| batteries are known as "Baghdad Batteries" and we | | | | electricity and began to use the term "battery" for |
| still know very little about them and why they were | | | | electronic storage devices. In 1786, Luigi Galvani |
| constructed. The Baghdad Batteries are tall terracotta | | | | discovered how to construct a galvanic cell when he |
| jars equipped with a copper cylinder formed by a | | | | was researching the biological effects of electricity. |
| rolled-up copper sheet. Inside the copper, you will find | | | | The galvanic cell was capable of producing an electric |
| an iron rod that is isolated by plugs or stoppers made | | | | current much greater than the currents produced by |
| from asphalt. If the jar is filled with liquid, the metal | | | | the earlier chemical devices. The galvanic cell did |
| will be completely surrounded by fluid, and some | | | | however produce the electricity at a lower voltage. |
| historians believe that grape juice, lemon juice, | | | | The first galvanic cell consisted of two different |
| vinegar or similarly acid solutions were used to start | | | | metals. The metal pieces were in contact with each |
| off an electrochemical reaction in the jars. | | | | other while simultaneously having their other ends |
| To put it simple: a battery consists of one or several | | | | exposed to salty water. Today, galvanic cells are also |
| voltaic cells. Chemical energy is transformed into | | | | know as voltaic cells and electrochemical cells. |
| electrical energy via chemical reactions that serve to | | | | In 1800, Italian physicist Alessandro Volta constructed |
| transfer charge between the electrode and the | | | | the Voltaic pile. Volta understood how metal and |
| electrolyte in the battery. This type of reaction is | | | | chemicals can produce electrical current when they |
| formally known as a "faradaic reaction", and is what | | | | come in contact with each other. He used copper |
| makes current flow through the battery cells. | | | | and zinc discs (sometimes silver and zinc discs) and |
| A majority of the voltaic cells used in commonly | | | | separated them by cloth soaked in salt water. In |
| available AAA batteries are 1.5 volt voltaic cells. Cells | | | | 1801, Alessandro Volta showed his discovery to |
| containing lithium will however sometimes give off 3 | | | | Napoleon Bonaparte and was later ennobled for his |
| volts or even more since their chemistry is very | | | | extensive research within the electric field. Another |
| different. Single-cell, rechargeable alkaline AAA | | | | important experiment that took place in the year of |
| batteries can be rated even lower than 1.5 volt; | | | | 1800 was carried out by William Nicholson and |
| around 1.2 volt. Transistor-Transistor Logic (TTL) are | | | | Anthony Carlisle. Nicholson and Carlisle managed to |
| 12 volt units, and automobile electrical systems use 12 | | | | show how a battery could be used to break up |
| volts. | | | | water into hydrogen and oxygen. |
| The modern development that eventually led to the | | | | |