Batteries: fifty years of materials development

This paper reviews developments in batteries over the past 50 years with particular reference to advances in materials science and engineering technology. The emphasis is on commercially available batteries such as zinc/manganese dioxide primary cells, and lead/acid and nickel/alkaline secondary cells, although specialist batteries and those in an advanced stage of development are also described briefly. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries will be covered in another paper in this symposium.