Batteries are made of several key components and materials that enable them to store and deliver electrical energy. The main components typically include:
- Anode (negative electrode) : Often made from metals like zinc, graphite, or lead.
- Cathode (positive electrode) : Made from materials like manganese dioxide, lithium cobalt oxide, nickel manganese cobalt, or lithium iron phosphate, depending on the battery type.
- Electrolyte : A chemical medium that allows ions to move between the cathode and anode. Examples include potassium hydroxide in alkaline batteries and lithium salts dissolved in organic solvents in lithium-ion batteries.
- Separator : A porous material (often plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene) that separates the anode and cathode to prevent short circuits while allowing ionic flow.
- Housing : Usually made of plastic or metal to contain and protect the internal materials.
Specific metals commonly found in batteries include lithium, cadmium, nickel, iron, zinc, manganese, and cobalt. Plastics are used for separators and casings. For example, alkaline batteries typically contain zinc (anode), manganese dioxide (cathode), and potassium hydroxide (electrolyte), while lithium-ion batteries include materials like lithium, nickel, manganese, cobalt, graphite, aluminum, and copper. In automotive lead-acid batteries, lead plates and sulfuric acid electrolyte are used. Electric vehicle lithium- ion batteries use advanced cathode materials like nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) or lithium iron phosphate (LFP), graphite or silicon anodes, polymer separators, and specific electrolytes. Thus, the exact composition depends on the battery type—such as alkaline, lithium-ion, lead-acid, or nickel- cadmium—but generally involves a mixture of metals, electrolytes, separators, and plastic housings. The role of these materials is to facilitate the electrochemical reactions that generate electricity while maintaining safety and durability. This overview captures the main elements making up batteries across different technologies.
