Batteries - fifty years of materials development

This paper reviews developments in batteries over the past 50 years with pa rticular reference to advances in materials science and engineering technol ogy. The emphasis is on commercially available batteries such as zinc/manga nese dioxide primary cells, and lead/acid and nickel/alkaline secondary cel ls, although specialist batteries and those in an advanced stage of develop ment are also described briefly. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries will be covered in another paper in this symposium. (C) 2000 Ronald M. Dell. Publi shed by Elsevier Science BN.