What is it?

 

Electrochemical energy storage is a way to store energy for electrical use in a device that can convert electrical work into chemical free energy. 

 

 

What are some examples?

 

Batteries are the most widely used electrochemical storage devices. Typical batteries supply electrical energy from the chemical reactants contained within them. They come in a range of sizes for countless applications and are divided into primary and secondary groups. Primary batteries are single use and limited to supplying the energy contained in one unit. While secondary batteries have the same small storage capacity as primary batteries, they are able to be recharged so they can use this capacity multiple times.

 

Fuels cells are a more advanced type of electrochemical storage device. They are similar to batteries with the exception that the chemical reactant fuel is not stored in the battery cell; it is drawn in from an external source. This prevents the fuell cell from being limited to the small storage capacity of a battery.

 

 

Advantages:

• long storage life

• provide portable electrical power

• secondary batteries are rechargeable

 

 

Disadvantages:

• high cost

• batteries have small storage capacity