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zinc carbide is one of the most common primary battery chemistries that is still in use today. It is cheap to produce and therefore it is the chemistry of choice for low drain devices like remote controls, clocks etc. It is also the battery that comes with many electronic products that say “Batteries Included” and it has a very low rate of self-discharge so it remains an important battery option for intermittent uses.
The zinc-carbon (sometimes called the Leclanche) cell is a dry battery, that contains two electrodes that are separated and immersed in an electrolyte solution. Electrical charges flow from the negative terminal (cathode) to the positive one (anode). The cathode material is usually a mixture of manganese dioxide powder, special carbon black and an electrolyte solution that is blended together. The anode is a piece of zinc metal which is sealed in a solid zinc can.
The negative anode in a zinc alloy battery is typically plated with iron, cadmium, indium and/or other additives to ensure a low hydrogen overpotential to prevent localized corrosion that can lead to cell leakage. The cathode is made of a mix of natural manganese dioxide, which must be very pure, and graphite or acetylene (carbon) black which provides better conductivity and electrolyte absorption. This material must be able to withstand the high temperatures of the battery’s operating cycle. Titanium carbide is a very brittle material that is difficult to fabricate in large quantities, but it has excellent tensile strength and shock compression performance.