- #1
gnome
- 1,041
- 1
It appears that all rechargeable "AA" batteries are rated at 1.2V.
Why doesn't anybody make 1.5V rechargeables?
Why doesn't anybody make 1.5V rechargeables?
The voltage supplied by an electrochemical cell has to do with the electrodes that are used to make the battery (as well as a few other conditions, such as concentrations of ions, etc). To make a 1.5 V battery, they'd probably have to make the battery out of some other materials, materials that may be expensive, impractical, etc.gnome said:It appears that all rechargeable "AA" batteries are rated at 1.2V.
Why doesn't anybody make 1.5V rechargeables?
That's why it would solve the recycling problem. The recycling problem with batteries is that no one recycles them: all that's in a used battery is a lot of cheap chemicals and elements. It isn't worth the work to recycle them. People throw them away. People drop them on the street.ElementFire said:Gold is expensive, though.
My thinking was that the gold would be electrodeposited on a porous element just like the platinum in a catalytic converter. This would primariy be to get the most surface area out of the least amount of gold, but it would also deter people from trying to do what you pointed out would inevitably happen: people stealing other people's batteries thinking they can melt down the gold. This way, it would take an industrial process to recover the gold from the porous element, involving nitric and hydrochloric acid, and should really end up being more trouble than it's worth. No one steals catalytic converters and tries to reclaim the platinum, despite the fact it is worth much more than the same weight of gold. Too much trouble for too little platinum.ElementFire said:It's a good idea on paper, but people may not want to use them as batteries. They'll find some technique to liquefy the gold in the battery and they'll make jewelry out of them (I'm guessing a necklace made of gold will be more expensive than one battery). :)
My thinking was that the gold would be electrodeposited on a porous element just like the platinum in a catalytic converter. This would primariy be to get the most surface area out of the least amount of gold, but it would also deter people from trying to do what you pointed out would inevitably happen: people stealing other people's batteries thinking they can melt down the gold. This way, it would take an industrial process to recover the gold from the porous element, involving nitric and hydrochloric acid, and should really end up being more trouble than it's worth. No one steals catalytic converters and tries to reclaim the platinum, despite the fact it is worth much more than the same weight of gold. Too much trouble for too little platinum.
This is because traditional rechargeable batteries, also known as nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, have a lower nominal voltage of 1.2V compared to non-rechargeable alkaline batteries which have a nominal voltage of 1.5V. This is due to the different chemical reactions that occur within these two types of batteries.
Technically, it is possible to increase the voltage of rechargeable batteries to 1.5V. However, this would require a different type of battery chemistry, such as lithium-ion, which has a nominal voltage of 3.6V. These types of batteries are typically used in electronic devices such as smartphones and laptops, and are not commonly used in household items like AA or AAA batteries.
There are some 1.5V rechargeable batteries available, but they are not common and are usually more expensive. These batteries use a different type of chemistry, such as nickel-zinc or nickel-cadmium, which have a higher nominal voltage of 1.5V. However, these batteries are not as widely used as NiMH batteries due to their lower energy density and shorter lifespan.
One of the main reasons someone might want to use 1.5V rechargeable batteries is for devices that require a higher voltage, such as high-powered flashlights or cameras. These batteries can provide a longer runtime and higher performance compared to traditional 1.2V rechargeable batteries. However, for most household devices, the difference in voltage is not significant enough to justify the higher cost of 1.5V rechargeable batteries.
It is unlikely that there will be a 1.5V rechargeable battery with the same capacity as a 1.2V battery using the same type of chemistry. The higher voltage would require a different type of battery chemistry, which may not be as efficient as NiMH batteries in terms of energy density and lifespan. However, advancements in battery technology may lead to the development of more efficient 1.5V rechargeable batteries in the future.