Can a dry cell be made rechargeable?

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In summary: You are proposing to create a dangerous reaction in a fume hood and without any safety equipment. Do not proceed.
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Doriangrey
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Thread moved from the technical forums to the schoolwork forums
TL;DR Summary: Dry cells are usually not rechargeable but I had a few ideas.

Basically dry cells are not rechargeable as zinc reacts with ammonia to form complex compounds which can't be revived. Consequently the quantity of reactants reduce thus hindering it from recharging.
So in a dry cell, Zinc and Manganese oxide/graphite are taken as electrodes. What if we took Zinc and Zinc oxide as electrodes? They could be kept in an acidic medium, and as both are of same degree of reactivity, could the cell now be recharged?
 
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  • #2
"If we had some eggs, we could have some ham and eggs, if we had some ham...."
 
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  • #3
What would be the point? You are essentially proposing a new kind of battery chemistry - why do you think this has been overlooked by what is a multi-billion dollar business?
 
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  • #4
Vanadium 50 said:
What would be the point? You are essentially proposing a new kind of battery chemistry - why do you think this has been overlooked by what is a multi-billion dollar business?
I have to make an investigatory project and thought of constructing a cell which is rechargeable is all. So the only thing that matters to me is if it works or not
 
  • #5
So what do you need from us? If you need to do the experiment for school, you should do the experiment.
 
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Doriangrey said:
I have to make an investigatory project and thought of constructing a cell which is rechargeable is all. So the only thing that matters to me is if it works or not
"Works?" Or works for how many/few charging cycles? Deep cycles? High current?
 
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  • #7
Vanadium 50 said:
So what do you need from us? If you need to do the experiment for school, you should do the experiment.
In a fume hood, while wearing safety glasses and a thick apron, with a fire extinguisher and safety shower nearby...

1689005020693.png

https://nadisolab.com/product/laboratory-safety-shower/
 
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  • #10
They all work very well. Each has its particular weakness. It would be important for any newcomer to outperform the existing technoloogy. By what margin does the proposed @chemisttree battery accomplish this? This is a theory question for the OP.
 
  • #11
Doriangrey said:
TL;DR Summary: Dry cells are usually not rechargeable but I had a few ideas.

Basically dry cells are not rechargeable as zinc reacts with ammonia to form complex compounds which can't be revived. Consequently the quantity of reactants reduce thus hindering it from recharging.
So in a dry cell, Zinc and Manganese oxide/graphite are taken as electrodes. What if we took Zinc and Zinc oxide as electrodes? They could be kept in an acidic medium, and as both are of same degree of reactivity, could the cell now be recharged?
No, dry cells cannot be made rechargeable.
 

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