Batteries

Silver oxide batteries are replacing lithium batteries in many applications.

Photo courtesy of:Eveready Battery Co., Inc.

Many batteries - rechargeable and disposable - are manufactured with silver alloys as the cathode or negative side. Although expensive, silver cells have power-to-weight characteristics superior to their competitors. The most common of these batteries is the small button-shaped silver-oxide cell - used in cameras, toys, hearing aids, watches and calculators - which is approximately 35 percent silver by weight.

Due to environmental and safety concerns, silver-oxide batteries are beginning to replace lithium-ion batteries in mobile phones and laptop computers. Silver-zinc batteries feature a water-based chemistry and contain no lithium or flammable liquids.