. Bulletin. Science. Figure 21.âGrove battery as used in American telegraphy. From G. B. Prescott, History, Theory, and Practice oj the Electric Telegraph, Boston, i860, p. 68, fig. 7. Plante was able to turn the disadvantage of polariza- tion into an advantage, and, using solid electrodesâ Grove's 1839 cell had gas electrodesâhe created the first "storage" (secondary) cell.^° By electrolyzing dilute sulfuric acid with lead electrodes, Plante formed a layer of lead oxide on lead. The charging batteries were then removed, and the secoadary cell could return the stored energy. If not
. Bulletin. Science. Figure 21.âGrove battery as used in American telegraphy. From G. B. Prescott, History, Theory, and Practice oj the Electric Telegraph, Boston, i860, p. 68, fig. 7. Plante was able to turn the disadvantage of polariza- tion into an advantage, and, using solid electrodesâ Grove's 1839 cell had gas electrodesâhe created the first "storage" (secondary) cell.^° By electrolyzing dilute sulfuric acid with lead electrodes, Plante formed a layer of lead oxide on lead. The charging batteries were then removed, and the secoadary cell could return the stored energy. If not too much current was required, Plante's cell gave a somewhat constant potential of volts. (Figs. 27-31). Camille Faure modified the secondary cell by applying a paste of the red oxide of lead directly to the plates.*" The cell was charged by electrolyzing dilute sulfuric acid with these preformed electrodes. This process converted the red oxide to lead dioxide, and the cell was ready for use (fig. 32). The Faure cell gave two volts and had a more stable operation than did the Plante cell. It appeared at a very opportune time, for it found immediate application in telegraphy; later it was particularly important in the production of electrical power. Use of the secondary battery to store electricity when the load was light and to deliver it to the system when the load was heavy resulted in a one-third reduction in the cost of electrical power. Since secondary cells using acid electrolytes were 3° Gaston Plante, "Nouvelle Pile secondaire d'une grande puissance," Academic des Sciences, Paris, Comptes renins, 1860, vol. 50, pp. 640-642; "Recherches sur les courants secondaires et leurs applications," AnnaUs de chimie el de physique, 1868, vol. 15, pp. 5-30; Recherches sur I'electricite, Paris, 1879. <" C. A. Faure, "Sur La Pile secondaire de M. C. Faure," Academic des Sciences, Paris, Comptes rendus, 1881, vol. 92, pp. 951-953.
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