Alkaline-manganese dioxide primary batteries discharging

FIGURE 10.23 Performance characteristics of premium zinc/alkaline/manganese dioxide primary batteries AA-size (a) Discharge characteristics at various current drains to specified end voltages, (b) Discharge characteristics at various resistance drains to specified end voltages. 

The design of a AA-size alkaline manganese dioxide cell is shown in Fig. 1 (Sec. 3.1). Primary and secondary alkaline batteries are constructed in the same way and can be manufactured on essentially the same machinery. The separator material, electrode formulation, and the Mn02 Zn balance are different. Rechargeable cells are zinc-limited to prevent a discharge beyond the first electron-equivalent of the MnOz reduction. The electrolyte is 7-9 mol L KOH. The electrode reactions are ... 

The discharge characteristics of the rechargeable alkaline manganese dioxide battery are similar to those exhibited by primary batteries the battery voltage... 

Figure 18.9 Discharge graph of old and new primary batteries A = Leclanche, B = alkaline, C = lithium/manganese dioxide. (From Ref. 3.)...

The more familiar types of primary alkaline systems are the zinc/manganese dioxide, zinc/ mercuric oxide, and zinc/silver oxide batteries. These, typically, use potassium or sodium hydroxides, in concentrations from 25 to 40% hy weight, as the electrolyte, which functions primarily as an ionic conductor and is not consumed in the discharge process. In simple form, the overall discharge reaction for these metal oxide cells can be stated as... 

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