The first battery was a stack of metal disks separated by salty cardboard
The world's first battery was a simple stack of zinc and copper disks separated by brine-soaked cardboard, creating a continuous flow of electricity for the first time.
In 1800, Alessandro Volta disproved the prevailing theory of 'animal electricity' by creating the Voltaic Pile, the first device to produce a steady chemical current. He discovered that by stacking alternating disks of zinc and copper, with pieces of cardboard soaked in salt water (brine) between them, he could trigger a chemical reaction. The brine acted as an electrolyte, allowing ions to shuttle between the metals and forcing electrons to flow through an external wire.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 1-question quiz