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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-02-03 Origin: Site
Positive Electrode: The core material is silver oxide (Ag₂O), usually doped with a small amount of graphite to enhance conductivity, and it is the place where reduction reactions occur in the battery. During discharge, silver oxide accepts electrons, is reduced to metallic silver (Ag), and releases oxygen ions at the same time.
Negative Electrode: Zinc (Zn) is generally used as the electrode material, made into a zinc powder or zinc alloy shell, and it is the place where oxidation reactions occur. During discharge, zinc loses electrons, is oxidized to zinc ions (Zn⊃2;⁺), and electrons flow to the positive electrode through an external circuit to form an electric current.
Electrolyte: Most are alkaline electrolytes, commonly potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions, which play the role of conducting ions, allowing zinc ions and oxygen ions to move between electrodes, maintaining the continuous progress of the reaction, and ensuring stable current output.
Separator and Shell: The separator is located between the positive and negative electrodes, functioning to separate the two electrodes to prevent short circuits and allow electrolyte ions to pass through; the shell is usually made of metal material, which not only protects the internal structure but also serves as part of the negative electrode to participate in the reaction. The overall design is compact, adapting to the installation needs of small devices.
High Energy Density: This is the most prominent advantage of silver oxide batteries. Silver oxide batteries per unit volume or unit weight can store more electrical energy, far higher than ordinary zinc-manganese dry batteries. This means that under the same volume, it can provide more long-lasting power supply, which is very suitable for precision devices that are small in size and cannot install large-capacity batteries.
Stable Discharge: During the entire discharge process, the voltage fluctuation of silver oxide batteries is extremely small, which can continuously provide stable voltage output. For devices with high requirements for voltage stability such as electronic watches and hearing aids, this characteristic is crucial - stable voltage can ensure accurate timekeeping of the device and clear sound quality, avoiding device failures caused by voltage fluctuations.
Small Size and Diverse Shapes: Most silver oxide batteries are button-type (button cells), and a few are cylindrical. They are small in overall size and light in weight, and can be easily embedded into the interior of small devices such as electronic watches, microcalculators, and hearing aids, without occupying too much space, adapting to the design needs of various precision devices.
Low Self-Discharge Rate: In the unused state, the self-discharge speed of silver oxide batteries is very slow, with a long shelf life (usually 2-5 years). Even if stored for a long time, it can maintain good electrical energy reserves, so there is no need to worry about battery failure due to too fast self-discharge, which is convenient for long-term storage and standby of the device.
No Obvious Memory Effect: Unlike some secondary batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), silver oxide batteries, as primary batteries, have no memory effect. There is no need to worry about affecting subsequent use due to incomplete discharge, making them more convenient to use.
Disposable, Cannot Be Recharged: Silver oxide batteries are primary batteries. After discharge, the electrode materials will be completely consumed, and electrical energy cannot be recovered through charging. They can only be discarded and replaced, resulting in relatively high long-term use costs.
High Cost: Due to the high price of silver oxide (Ag₂O), the core material of the positive electrode, compared with ordinary zinc-manganese dry batteries and alkaline dry batteries, the production cost of silver oxide batteries is higher, and the selling price is also relatively expensive, which limits their wide application in ordinary civil devices.
Poor Low-Temperature Performance: In low-temperature environments (such as below -10℃), the conductivity of the electrolyte of silver oxide batteries will decrease, the reaction rate will slow down, leading to reduced discharge capacity, unstable voltage, and even inability to discharge normally. Therefore, they are not suitable for long-term use in low-temperature environments.
Do Not Recharge: Silver oxide batteries are disposable primary batteries and must never be recharged. Forced charging will cause an increase in internal pressure of the battery, leading to leakage, bulging, and even explosion and combustion. At the same time, it will also damage the charging equipment and the electronic equipment using the battery.
Do Not Short-Circuit: Do not short-circuit the positive and negative electrodes of the battery with metal objects (such as keys, tweezers), nor stack multiple batteries randomly (with positive and negative electrodes in contact). Short-circuiting will cause the battery to generate a lot of heat instantly, leading to leakage, bulging, and even combustion. At the same time, it will quickly consume battery power and cause battery failure.
Correct Installation, Avoid Reverse Installation: When installing the battery, strictly follow the requirements of the device manual to distinguish the positive and negative electrodes (the battery shell is usually marked with "+" and "-" poles) to avoid reverse installation. Reverse installation of positive and negative electrodes will cause the device to fail to work normally, and may damage the circuit of the device or even cause battery leakage in severe cases.
Avoid High Temperature and Extreme Environments: Do not place silver oxide batteries in high-temperature environments (such as direct sunlight, near fire sources, or next to high-temperature ovens). High temperature will accelerate battery self-discharge, shorten the shelf life, and may also cause battery leakage and bulging; at the same time, avoid placing the battery in extreme low-temperature environments to prevent affecting its discharge performance.
Replace Failed Batteries in Time: When the device shows insufficient power, inaccurate timekeeping, poor sound quality, etc., it indicates that the battery is about to fail and should be replaced in time. If the battery is in a failed state for a long time, it may leak. The alkaline electrolyte inside the battery will corrode the circuit board and metal parts of the device, leading to device damage, and the leaked electrolyte may also irritate the skin.
Properly Dispose of Waste Batteries: Silver oxide batteries are hazardous waste. Waste batteries contain metals such as silver and zinc, as well as alkaline electrolytes. Random disposal will pollute soil and water sources and harm the ecological environment. Therefore, waste silver oxide batteries should be properly collected and handed over to professional waste battery recycling agencies for disposal. Do not discard them randomly or mix them with domestic waste.
Keep Away from Children: Button-type silver oxide batteries are small in size and easy to be swallowed by children, posing a choking hazard; at the same time, the electrolyte inside the battery is corrosive, which will damage the intestines and stomach if swallowed. Therefore, silver oxide batteries should be placed in places inaccessible to children. If swallowed, seek medical attention immediately.
