Silver Oxide Battery

A silver oxide battery is a type of primary (non-rechargeable) button cell battery that uses silver oxide as the positive electrode (cathode) and zinc as the negative electrode (anode). The electrolyte used in this battery is an alkaline potassium hydroxide solution, which facilitates the flow of ions between the electrodes.

The chemical reaction that occurs inside a silver oxide battery is as follows:

Ag2O + Zn → 2Ag + ZnO

In this reaction, silver oxide (Ag2O) is reduced to form silver (Ag) at the cathode, while zinc (Zn) is oxidized to form zinc oxide (ZnO) at the anode. This results in the release of energy, which is harnessed as electric current.

Silver oxide batteries are commonly used in small electronic devices such as watches, calculators, and hearing aids, due to their high energy density, long shelf life, and stable voltage output. They are also known for their low self-discharge rate, which means that they can retain their charge for a long time even when not in use.

However, silver oxide batteries are more expensive than other types of batteries, making them less cost-effective for certain applications. Additionally, they cannot be recharged, and must be disposed of properly once they have reached the end of their useful life.