Why Should You Use Alkaline Batteries in

Your Application?
Although the progress of technology moves fast and batteries are more popular for supporting
mobile devices, it should be noted that the actual battery chemistries haven’t changed much over
the last several years. The shift in hand-held devices are for rechargeable solutions with more
energy and lighter weight which targets lithium chemistry.

However, there is still a big demand for alkaline batteries because they provide a higher
discharge, are very economical, and have a long storage life. We are still producing some unique
alkaline battery packs that are used in commercial and military applications. Some for ocean data
collection, tracking devices, and other various uses.

An alkaline battery is a type of a dry cell primary battery that uses the chemical reaction of zinc
and magnesium oxide and an alkaline electrolyte of potassium hydroxide to generate electric
current. It is currently the most popular type of disposable battery in the market. Other common
applications include small electronic devices such as clocks and flashlights, as well as portable
radios and electronic toys.

Note that an alkaline battery is a primary battery. It is intended for disposal upon single use.
However, manufacturers have come up with specially designed battery cells to produce
rechargeable alkaline batteries.

How Does Alkaline Work?

Chemical reactions transpire in the anode and cathode due to their individual interactions with
the ions from the alkaline electrolyte solution of potassium hydroxide.

In the zinc anode, an interaction with ions of potassium hydroxide causes a buildup of excess
electron. This buildup results in an electrical difference between the anode and cathode.
Furthermore, because of the buildup of electrons in the zinc anode, they would have the natural
tendency to move somewhere else. In an alkaline battery, these excess electrons should move in
the magnesium oxide cathode. This is impossible by default because there is no direct connection
between the anode and the magnesium cathode.

Allowing the excess electrons to move requires creating a closed circuit, particularly by placing
the alkaline battery into a device. The movement of the electrons from the anode to the cathode
via the closed circuit creates an electric current. This is how alkaline batteries power electronic
devices.
It is also important to note that the magnesium oxide cathode able to receive the excess or free
electrons due to its interaction with the ions from the alkaline electrolyte solution of potassium
hydroxide. To be specific, the reaction ions from the electrolyte reacting with free electrons to
form compounds.

Advantages
One of the advantages of alkaline batteries over other primary batteries and rechargeable
batteries is that it has higher energy density. For example, this battery has double the energy
density of a Leclanché cell and zinc-carbon batteries. This allows the battery to produce the same
energy while lasting longer than other batteries.

The rechargeable variant of this battery also has four times the capacity of an equivalent nickel
cadmium or nickel metal hydride batteries.

Longevity is another advantage of alkaline battery. It has longer shelf life than batteries with
chloride-type electrolyte. It could last to up to seven years unused, losing about five percent of its
energy every year. This means that it does not easily run out of power while not in use. This
battery also functions even at very low temperatures. Susceptibility to leakage is also low
compared to a Leclanché cell battery.

Safety is also another advantage of alkaline battery. Compared with acid-based and lead-based
counterparts, this battery has lesser environmental impact. It does not require any special
disposal methods. The compounds inside an alkaline battery do not pose serious health issues
except from mild irritations.

Alkaline chemistry is manufactured in your standard size models which makes it easier for
engineers to design to and access cells to validate proof of concepts and prototype beta builds.
Alkaline batteries can be stung in series to create high voltage packs and can be configured in
many options to fit many types of requirements.

Alkaline batteries are composed primarily of common metals such as steel, zinc, and manganese
and do not pose a health or environmental risk during normal use or disposal. Since the early
1990’s mercury has been removed from the chemistry makeup, so they can safely be disposed
with normal household waste, everywhere but California.

In Vermont, a 2016 law now requires primary battery producers to fund a statewide collection
and recycling program. Several cell producers have partnered with “Call2Recycle”, a nonprofit
battery recycling program to manage a statewide program for the collection and recycling of
household batteries You will also find several home improvement stores nationwide have free
recycling as well

An Alkaline battery pack is also a very good candidate for potting, which we do for several
custom applications. Being a primary chemistry, no charging/cycling would need to be
performed so the cells don’t experience the typical heating, internal temperature changes, or
potential gassing that a rechargeable battery sees.
Disadvantages
Compared to other batteries, alkaline batteries have some disadvantages. For example, compared
with a lithium ion battery, an alkaline battery is bulkier and heavier. Note that li-ion batteries
have higher energy density.

Another disadvantage of alkaline battery is high internal resistance. Remember that internal
resistance serves as a gatekeeper for determining runtime. A high internal resistance reduces the
power output of a battery.

Leakage is also possible in alkaline batteries although Leclanché cell and zinc-carbon batteries
have higher susceptibility. When left in devices for too long, the battery can leak, and the leaked
materials can corrode circuits.

Summary
When choosing your battery type, the alkaline chemistry has been shown to have many positive
advantages such as low cost, easily accessible, standard sizes, high energy, etc. Of course, there
are always some drawbacks, but the advantages often outweigh those disadvantages in many
common applications, so the alkaline battery remains a popular choice throughout many market
segments.