What is an alkaline cell battery?

Alkaline cell batteries are a type of high-capacity, non-rechargeable dry cell and represent the highest-performing category within the zinc-manganese dioxide battery series. They are among the most common and widely used batteries on the market.

An alkaline cell battery consists of three main components: an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The anode (the negative electrode) is typically made from zinc powder and serves as the active material that participates in the chemical reaction. The cathode (the positive electrode) is composed of manganese dioxide. The electrolyte is usually a highly conductive potassium hydroxide solution with a pH greater than 7, making it alkaline.

These alkaline cell batteries are constructed using a reverse-polarity design, which increases the relative surface area between the positive and negative electrodes. This significantly enhances discharge efficiency and capacity. The working principle is based on the chemical reaction between metallic zinc and manganese dioxide to obtain energy.

The fundamental reaction equations for a typical alkaline cell battery are as follows:

This process efficiently converts chemical energy into electrical energy, making alkaline cell batteries suitable for a wide range of medium- to high-drain devices such as remote controls, toys, flashlights, and audio equipment.