Before delving into the development history of batteries, it's essential to clarify what a battery is. Simply put, a battery is a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy. Its history dates back over two millennia to the Baghdad period when ancient people discovered the Baghdad battery, also known as the earliest evidence of batteries found by archaeologists.

In modern times, batteries have made breakthrough progress. In 1746, Musschenbroek of Leiden University in the Netherlands invented the "Leyden jar" for collecting charges. In 1780, Italian anatomist Galvani discovered bioelectricity. These discoveries laid the foundation for further battery development.

In 1799, Volta successfully produced the world's first battery—the "Voltaic pile." This was a significant breakthrough in the history of batteries. Subsequently, in 1836, Daniel of England improved the "Voltaic pile," giving birth to the first rechargeable battery. This invention opened a new chapter in battery development.

In the latter half of the 19th century, batteries made further breakthroughs. In 1860, Leclanché of France invented the carbon-zinc battery, the earliest "dry" battery. In 1887, Hellesen of England invented the earliest dry cell battery. These inventions gradually brought batteries into people's lives.

Entering the 20th century, battery development became more rapid and refined. In 1910, rechargeable nickel-iron batteries were commercialized, further expanding the application range of batteries. By 1991, Sony introduced the first commercial lithium-ion battery (with graphite anode, lithium compound cathode, and electrolyte of lithium salt dissolved in organic solvent), opening up new possibilities for battery applications. Due to the high energy density and adaptability to different environments, lithium-ion batteries have been widely used in modern industrial and commercial applications.

As time progresses into the 21st century, battery development becomes more refined, with various types such as alkaline batteries, lithium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, rechargeable lithium batteries, and many more emerging, each with its own characteristics. In this process, selecting the most suitable battery system for current development serves the advancement of modern industrial and commercial sectors.

Currently, the largest areas of battery application are in new energy vehicles and wind and solar energy storage. The situation for new energy vehicles is promising domestically, with the sales proportion reaching 22.6% in 2022, expected to increase further in 2023. Simultaneously, energy storage stations are burgeoning domestically, leading to a gradual increase in battery usage. It can be said that the development of these two areas directly promotes the prosperity of the battery industry.

The main types of batteries used in new energy vehicles and energy storage are lithium-ion batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries. Before the emergence of lithium iron phosphate batteries, lithium-ion batteries were dominant. Despite being more expensive, lithium-ion batteries offer higher density, stability, and better cold resistance. On the other hand, lithium iron phosphate batteries have good heat resistance, lower costs, and smaller density, thus finding widespread application in the field of new energy vehicles.

Since the beginning of electrification, humanity has dreamt of storing electrical energy. With the continuous improvement in battery development, this dream has become a reality. The energy storage industry relies on batteries as the main body for charge and discharge, achieving peak shaving and valley filling in electricity usage, reducing pollution, and achieving the goal of green energy. As the energy storage industry rapidly develops, batteries will play an even greater role. In this phase of rapid development, the battery industry is expected to usher in a new peak of development.

Looking ahead, with the continuous progress of technology and ongoing innovation, we have reason to believe that battery life, range, temperature resistance, density, capacity, and safety will all be significantly improved. At the same time, we look forward to seeing more forms of batteries appearing in people's lives, contributing more to the progress and development of humanity.

Subscribe now