Silver oxide batteries, also known as silver-zinc batteries, use silver oxide as the positive electrode and zinc as the negative electrode with an alkaline electrolyte. Potassium hydroxide allows for efficient operation in heavily drained conditions, but sodium hydroxide is more resistant to salt. Silver oxide batteries offer advantages over other types of energy cells and are available in various sizes, with the smallest button cell batteries being affordable. They have been used in the military and space programs but are not environmentally friendly and must be disposed of properly.
A silver oxide battery is a long-lasting, high-energy power cell. These batteries are also called silver-zinc batteries because they are typically composed of silver oxide, which is used as the positive electrode, and zinc, which is used as the negative electrode. Both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide generally serve as an alkaline electrolyte.
The electrolyte used is important because it determines the current carrying capacity of the battery. Potassium hydroxide allows a silver oxide battery to operate more efficiently in heavily drained conditions. One downside to using potassium hydroxide is that it tends to make the battery harder to seal. This means that batteries containing sodium hydroxide are generally more resistant to salt.
Batteries containing both types of electrolyte typically perform well in extremely hot and cold temperatures. Those containing potassium hydroxide can operate at lower temperatures than their counterparts. Those containing sodium hydroxide have been found to experience greater amounts of efficiency losses in extreme cold conditions.
Compared to other types of energy cells, silver oxide batteries offer a number of advantages. These vary depending on the type of energy cell it is being compared to. When compared to a mercury battery, the silver oxide battery generally offers higher flat operating voltages. Compared to an alkaline battery, the silver oxide battery has a flatter discharge curve. Lithium-ion batteries are also overshadowed by the trend of silver oxide batteries to have substantially greater range.
These batteries are available in a range of sizes. Some are on the retail market for general consumers. The larger varieties of these batteries are generally not the most popular batteries for consumer purchase because they tend to be more expensive than many other options. Much of the expense is due to the price of silver.
The smallest silver oxide button cell batteries, however, which can be used in items such as watches and calculators, use only small amounts of silver. Their prices are therefore not as heavily influenced, so they tend to be seen as more affordable. Silver oxide batteries of this size are very popular and widely used in a number of devices.
The high quality performance of these batteries has prompted some users to ignore the cost and have custom built silver oxide batteries. The US military used them for power in torpedoes and submarines. They were also used extensively in the Apollo space program.
A silver oxide battery generally has a life span of three to five years. After that, they may start losing. These batteries are not considered environmentally friendly and may be dangerous to the environment or human health, depending on the condition of the battery. They must be disposed of according to hazardous material standards.
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