The invention of the first practical DC battery is credited to the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta. In 1800, Volta developed the voltaic pile, which is considered the first modern electric battery. Volta’s voltaic pile consisted of alternating layers of zinc and copper discs separated by cardboard soaked in saltwater or acid. When connected in series, these metal discs produced a continuous flow of electric current. The voltaic pile was a significant advancement in electrical technology, as it provided a reliable source of electric power for various experiments and applications.
Volta’s invention laid the foundation for the development of electrochemistry and paved the way for numerous subsequent innovations in electrical engineering and technology. The unit of electromotive force, the volt, is named after Alessandro Volta in recognition of his contributions to the field of electricity.