Batteries: types, shapes and sizes

Batteries fall into two general categories: non-rechargeable conventional batteries and rechargeable batteries with reversible chemical processes.

Differentiation by chemical composition

From a chemical point of view, batteries are divided into separate types depending on what type of electrolyte and metals are used in them. So, there are the following classes of batteries:

1.1 Salt batteries

Salt batteries are the elders of the of the non-rechargeable batteries. They got their name from the use of ammonium chloride as an electrolyte. This compound is essentially a salt.

From a practical point of view, the advantage of salt batteries is their low cost. At the same time, they are characterized by low capacity and uneven discharge, which is why it makes sense to use such batteries in devices with low power consumption: wall clocks, remote controls, etc. Internationally labelled with the letter R.

Salt batteries

Videx 2xC Super Heavy Duty

from 40 ₴

Kodak Super Heavy Duty 2xC

from 38 ₴

Varta Superlife 4xAA

from 38 ₴

Panasonic General Purpose 4xAAA

from 39 ₴

Varta Superlife 1xKrona

from 40 ₴

Kodak Super Heavy Duty 1xKrona

from 46 ₴

Maxell Zinc 4xAAA

from 106 ₴

Camelion Super Heavy Duty 4xAA Green

from 99 ₴

Energizer Super 4xAA

from 90 ₴

Varta Super Heavy Duty 1xKrona

from 45 ₴

Panasonic Red Zink 4xAA

from 46 ₴

Varta Superlife 2xC

from 45 ₴

Panasonic Red Zink 2xD

from 79 ₴

Panasonic Red Zink 4xAAA

from 42 ₴

Philips LongLife 4xAAA

from 43 ₴

Philips LongLife 4xAA

from 59 ₴

Varta Superlife 4xAAA

from 38 ₴

Panasonic General Purpose 2xD

from 40 ₴

Panasonic Red Zink 2xC

from 62 ₴

Panasonic General Purpose 8xAA

from 64 ₴

1.2. Alkaline batteries

A counterpart to disposable salt batteries with a focus on more power-efficient devices. Alkaline batteries use an electrolyte of potassium hydroxide. Batteries of this type are much more expensive than salt batteries, but their capacity is several times higher.

Disposable alkaline batteries are notable for their good voltage uniformity during discharge and high discharge currents. They are suitable for use in flashes, cameras, hand-held flashlights. In the international system, alkaline batteries are labelled with the LR symbols.

Alkaline batteries

Duracell 4xAA MN1500

from 49 ₴

Duracell 18xAA MN1500

from 499 ₴

Varta LongLife Max Power 4xAA

from 105 ₴

Verbatim Premium 24xAAA

from 249 ₴

Videx 4xAA Alkaline

from 46 ₴

Duracell 4xAAA MN2400

from 39 ₴

Duracell 2xAAA MN2400

from 54 ₴

Camelion 10xAG13

from 65 ₴

Duracell Optimum 4xAAA

from 49 ₴

Xiaomi ZI7 Rainbow 10xAAA

from 140 ₴

Duracell 12xAA MN1500

from 334 ₴

Duracell 5xA23 MN21

from 213 ₴

Videx 2xD Alkaline

from 94 ₴

Pkcell Ultra 4xAAA

from 38 ₴

Energizer Power 24xAA

from 455 ₴

Videx 10xAG13

from 50 ₴

Verbatim Premium 8xAAA

from 79 ₴

EnerGenie Super Alkaline 2x23A

from 49 ₴

Varta 1xV27A

from 90 ₴

GP High Voltage 5xA23

from 48 ₴

1.3. Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries

Nickel-Cadmium batteries are cheap in production, very reliable and long-lasting. However, they have a memory of the remaining charge level. To put it simply, discharge of such batteries is possible only to the point at which the battery began to be charged.

Ni-Cd technology is rare in batteries. One of the obstacles to its use is the toxic nature of cadmium — Ni-Cd batteries emit poisonous substances if the sealing of the case is broken, so they are not environmentally friendly.

1.4. Nickel-Metal hydride (Ni-Mh) batteries

Further development of Ni-Cd technology for the production of rechargeable batteries using non-toxic filling. Nickel-Metal hydride batteries are available in AA and AAA form factors and are characterized by high stability of the operating voltage as they are discharged.

Batteries labeled Ni-Mh boast high specific energy capacity and a long service life. But in terms of self-discharge rate, they are slightly inferior to their Ni-Cd counterparts.

Ni-Mh rechargeable batteries

Duracell 4xAA 2500 mAh

from 532 ₴

Panasonic Eneloop Pro 4xAA 2500 mAh

from 850 ₴

Panasonic Eneloop 4xAAA 800 mAh

from 390 ₴

Esperanza 4xAAA 1000 mAh

from 166 ₴

Liitokala 5xAAA 1000 mAh

from 446 ₴

GP Rechargeable 2xAA 2700 mAh

from 147 ₴

Panasonic Eneloop 2xAA 2000 mAh

from 406 ₴

Esperanza 2xAA 2000 mAh

from 136 ₴

Verbatim 4xAAA 950 mAh

from 235 ₴

Panasonic Eneloop 4xAA 2000 mAh

from 750 ₴

Panasonic Eneloop 1xAAA 750 mAh

from 125 ₴

Philips MultiLife 4xAA 2600 mAh

from 580 ₴

Verbatim 4xAA 2500 mAh

from 337 ₴

Varta Professional 4xAAA 1000 mAh

from 295 ₴

Esperanza 4xAA 2000 mAh

from 269 ₴

Panasonic Eneloop 4xAA 2000 mAh + case

from 899 ₴

Panasonic Eneloop Pro 4xAA 2550 mAh

from 780 ₴

Duracell 4xAA 1300 mAh

from 364 ₴

Pkcell Already 4xAA 600 mAh

from 182 ₴

Liitokala 1xAA 2600 mAh

from 150 ₴

1.5. Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries

Lithium-Ion batteries are almost immune to the memory effect, have a high energy content, and can be charged from any discharge level. The technology is used on specialised batteries with numerical indices (more on this below).

Li-Ion batteries lose out except in terms of cost, relatively low discharge currents, and sensitivity to usage.

In typical Li-Ion batteries, the cathode material is cobalt, manganese or a combination of both. However, there are also more complex cathode formulations containing nickel, cadmium and manganese. In hardware they are called Li-Ion NMC technology, which is found in charging stations and uninterruptible power supplies. Such batteries provide an increase in total power with a stable voltage.

Li-Ion rechargeable batteries

Panasonic NCR18650B 3400 mAh

from 168 ₴

Samsung INR18650-35E 3500 mah 10 A

from 134 ₴

Liitokala 1x18650 3400 mAh Green

from 139 ₴

TITANUM 1x18650 2000 mAh

from 88 ₴

Sony US18650-VTC6 3000 mAh 30 A

from 215 ₴

Verico Loop Energy 2xAAA 600 mAh

from 397 ₴

Soshine 4xAA 2600 mAh USB Type C

from 999 ₴

Proove Compact Energy 2xAAA 750 mAh USB Type-C

from 499 ₴

Liitokala 1x18650 3000 mAh Brown

from 138 ₴

Samsung INR18650-30Q 3000 mAh 15 A

from 230 ₴

Verico Loop Energy 2xAA 1700 mAh

from 489 ₴

VIPOW ICR18650 TipTop 2000 mAh

from 99 ₴

ColorWay 2xAA 1200 mAh USB

from 495 ₴

Samsung INR18650-25R 2500 mAh

from 140 ₴

Verico 2xD 7400 mAh USB Type-C

from 999 ₴

Liitokala 1x18650 3400 mAh Green with protection

from 179 ₴

LG ICR18650-HE2 2500 mAh

from 130 ₴

LG ICR18650-HG2 3000 mAh

from 140 ₴

Bailong BL-18650 8800 mAh

from 48 ₴

Soshine 1x14500 800 mAh

from 115 ₴

1.6. Lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries

Lithium-iron-phosphate technology eliminates the shortcomings of the original Li-Ion batteries in the aspects of reliability, safety and durability. LiFePO4 batteries provide high energy density, withstand a greater number of charge/discharge cycles, maintain the rated voltage more stably as they are discharged, support faster charging, and are thermally and chemically stable. And most importantly, the technology is safer than the original Li-Ion — rechargeable batteries based are not afraid of overloads and overcharges, they cope well with intense loads, and the likelihood of a fire or explosion of lithium-iron-phosphate batteries is reduced to zero.

Technically speaking, LiFePO4 is an advanced modification of lithium technology with a LiFePO4 cathode. Batteries based on it are optimally suited for powering power-consuming devices. A detailed comparison of lithium battery types is provided in the article “Li-Ion or LiFePO4: What’s best for charging station and UPS?”.

LiFePO4 rechargeable batteries

Voltronic Power 1x32140 12500 mAh

from 439 ₴

Liitokala 1x32700 7000 mAh

from 225 ₴

Liitokala 1x32700 6500 mAh

from 598 ₴

Videx LiFePO4 1x18650 2200 mAh

from 191 ₴

Videx LiFePO4 1x32700 6000 mAh

from 316 ₴

VIPOW IFR14500 TipTop 600 mAh

from 111 ₴

VIPOW IFR32135 14500 mAh

from 560 ₴

VIPOW IFR14500 TipTop 500 mAh

from 115 ₴

Vapcell 1x32700 6200 mAh

from 225 ₴

Orbus 1x32700 6000 mAh

from 339 ₴

Voltronic Power 1x32135 14500 mAh

from 551 ₴

Soshine 1xCR2 300 mAh

from 63 ₴

VIPOW IFR14500 TipTop 400 mAh

from 39 ₴

VIPOW IFR14430 TipTop 400 mAh

from 59 ₴

VIPOW IFR18500 TipTop 1000 mAh

from 108 ₴

Voltronic Power 1x33140 15000 mAh

from 479 ₴

Voltronic Power 1x32135 12000 mAh

from 479 ₴

VIPOW IFR33140 14000 mAh

from 560 ₴

Soshine 1x14500 700 mAh

from 110 ₴

1.7. Miniature batteries

Among coin batteries that are used in wristwatches, scales, security sensors, toys, etc., Lithium cells are most often found, and a little less common are Alkaline and Silver Oxide.

CR lithium batteries offer comparatively high voltages (up to 3 V) and long operating time with the small size of the batteries themselves. They withstand temperature changes and can be stored for a very long time due to their low self-discharge rates. The indices of CR batteries encode the size — for example, a conventional CR2032 battery has a size of 20 mm and a thickness of 3.2 mm.

Alkaline (LR) and Silver Oxide (SR) batteries have an operating voltage of about 1.5 V and are interchangeable with each other, however, the second subtype is preferable. They are superior in stability and durability to their Alkaline counterparts. And although Alkaline batteries are cheaper, they leak often, which promises failure of the powered device.

The gradation of such batteries is described below, and in more detail — in the material “Difficult choice: watch batteries types” material.

Differences between disposable batteries and rechargeable batteries

Both disposable and rechargeable batteries have their pros and cons. In particular, ordinary disposable batteries are inexpensive, produce a higher operating voltage (stable 1.5 V in the case of AA batteries), and do not require charging before use.

Rechargeable batteries are reusable, which is their main advantage over disposable ones. They also have a better ratio of cost to number of operating hours and can be used in devices with recharging (for example, garden lamps with a solar battery).

For a conventional TV remote control, there is no point in purchasing rechargeable batteries. Disposable batteries are great here. The rechargeable batteries will be useful for car alarm key fobs, flashes and other energy-consuming devices, for which the constant purchase can be ruinous.

The standard sizes of most disposable and rechargeable batteries are closely similar, but there are some differences between them. Therefore, let's look at the size grids of batteries separately.

Disposable battery sizes

There is a clear dominance of AA and AAA batteries. Slightly less common are batteries of C types and D, as well as PP3.

For better illustration, the differences between disposable battery form factors are shown in the table below:

Rechargeable battery sizes

Reusable batteries have many types of overlap with disposable batteries. However, their technical characteristics vary in particular the supply voltage. A clear illustration of the differences between the most common sizes of rechargeable batteries can be seen in the table below:

Miniature batteries

It’s not easy to understand the labeling of coin form factor batteries right away. The fact is that their manufacturers use different symbols for batteries. To make it easier to navigate when selecting such batteries, we have compiled correspondence tables.

Lithium batteries (CR):

Silver Oxide batteries (SR):

Alkaline batteries (LR):

Disposal of used batteries

Used batteries contain many dangerous chemicals that can harm human health and the environment. In a landfill, one battery decomposes within a hundred years, polluting over 20 m² of land and several hundred liters of groundwater. And when entering the human body along with food or water, toxins can cause a number of serious diseases — from nervous disorders to cancer.

Used rechargeable and disposable batteries are subject to recycling and reuse. Therefore, it is extremely important not to throw them in the trash bin along with other waste, but to store them in specialized containers or hand them over to recycling centers. They are placed at the entrances to large supermarkets, some housing and utilities authorities and administrations of urban settlements.

To ensure that the battery keeps its charge well and lasts long enough, it is better to give preference to original models from trusted manufacturers. The conditions and terms of storage of batteries are also important. And most importantly, recycle used batteries — in this way you will contribute to the protection of nature.