Memory Effect: Myth or Reality? The Past and Present Uses of Nickel-Cadmium Batteries

Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries once dominated the rechargeable battery market. From the 1960s to the 1990s, they were indispensable power sources in power tools, military equipment, emergency power supplies, and medical devices. With the rise of high-efficiency batteries like lithium-ion, their presence has faded from consumer electronics. However, Ni-Cd batteries continue to thrive in specific applications where their unique strengths remain unmatched. This post explores the truth about memory effect, key advantages and disadvantages of Ni-Cd batteries, and where they are still in use today.     What is a Nickel-Cadmium Battery? A Nickel-Cadmium battery uses nickel oxide as the cathode and cadmium as the anode, with an alkaline electrolyte (potassium hydroxide). Though it delivers a relatively low cell voltage of 1.2V, its robust structure, excellent low-temperature performance, and high charge-discharge durability made it a standard for various devices for...