# Other and primary batteries

Emerging rechargeable chemistries and single-use cells.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_other_batt/

Storage · Electrochemical · No. 77

- Storage
- Duration: Hours
 Storage · Electrochemical · Foundation · Energy

An ordinary AA alkaline cell can sit in a drawer for 10 years and still deliver its charge.

Chart: Illustration: Other and primary batteries

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Primary cells such as alkaline AAs are made to be used once, while rechargeable zinc, magnesium and potassium cells copy the lithium-ion idea with commoner metals.

##### Three things to know

1. Water-based zinc-ion cells cannot burn, but typical pouch cells still last under 300 cycles.
2. Lithium carbonate fell from USD 63,700/t in 2022 to about USD 9,000/t in 2025, shrinking the payoff from lithium substitutes.
3. The EU wants 63% of portable batteries collected by 2027 and 73% by 2030.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Common metals**Zinc, magnesium, potassium, manganese, silver
2. 2 **Cell design**Ions shuttle or plate onto metal
3. 3 **Single use**Alkaline, coin and button cells
4. 4 **Rechargeable trials**Zinc-ion, magnesium-ion, potassium-ion
5. 5 **End of life**Collected, recycled or thrown away

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_other_batt/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_other_batt/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and technology](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_other_batt/sg-sci/index.md)
- [Engineering and performance](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_other_batt/sg-eng/index.md)
- [Economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_other_batt/sg-econ/index.md)
- [Impact and additionality](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_other_batt/sg-impact/index.md)
- [What to track](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_other_batt/tracking/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_other_batt/links/index.md)