How Do Rechargeable Batteries Work?
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What is a Rechargeable?
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A rechargeable battery is made of a group of two or more secondary cells. The electrochemical reactions that drive a rechargeable battery can be reversed, allowing them to re-accumulate a charge. Attempting to recharge a non-rechargeable battery will not only fail to recharge it, but may result in an explosion.
Electrochemistry
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Common combinations of anodes and cathodes for rechargeable batteries are lead and sulfuric acid, nickel-cadmium, lithium-ion, and alkaline. These are arranged into anodes and cathodes. An anode is the electrode through which a current flows out of the battery and into a device, and the cathode is the electrode where the current flows out of the device and back into the battery.
Forms and Uses
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The lithium-ion rechargeable battery is found in laptop computers. The lead-acid design is most frequently encountered in car batteries, with alkaline rechargeables being used in place of disposable batteries in many forms of personal electronics. Nickel-cadmium batteries are typically found in cordless phones and power tools.
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