Georges Leclanché facts for kids
Georges Leclanché (born October 9, 1839 – died September 14, 1882) was a smart French engineer. He is famous for inventing the Leclanché cell. This was one of the first modern batteries. It was also the early version of the dry cell battery we use today.
Contents
A Life of Invention
Georges Leclanché was born in France in 1839. His father was a former government official. Because of some political problems in France, his family moved to the United Kingdom. Georges grew up and went to school in England.
Becoming an Engineer
He later finished his studies at a top engineering school in France called École Centrale Paris. He graduated in 1860 and started working as an engineer. His first job was with a French railway company. He helped manage their communication systems, especially those that used electricity to send time signals.
The Spark of an Idea
While working with the railways, Georges noticed problems with the batteries they were using. This made him want to create better, more efficient electrical cells. Because of the political situation in France, he moved to Brussels, Belgium. There, he set up a small lab.
In his lab, he first created a battery using copper carbonate. Then, he developed his famous electrical cell. This new cell used zinc and manganese dioxide. The Belgian telegraph company and the Dutch railway company quickly started using his invention.
Returning to France
After some political changes in France, Georges moved back to Paris. He teamed up with Ernest Barbier to start a battery factory called "Leclanché-Barbier." His company became the main battery maker in France. Georges Leclanché sadly passed away in Paris in 1882, at the age of 43.
After his death, his brother Maurice took over the business. Georges' son, Max, also continued to improve and sell his father's invention.
The Leclanché Cell
In 1866, Georges Leclanché invented his special battery, the Leclanché cell. This was a very important step in battery technology. It was the first version of the modern dry cell battery.
How it Worked
The Leclanché cell used a liquid solution called an electrolyte. This solution was made of ammonium chloride. The battery had two main parts:
- A negative part made of zinc.
- A positive part made of manganese dioxide.
This "wet cell," as people called it, was the first widely used battery in the world. It led to the creation of the zinc–carbon battery.
Making it Portable
In 1876, Leclanché made his battery even better. He added starch to the ammonium chloride solution. This turned the liquid into a jelly-like substance. This made his battery much easier to carry around and use.
The Leclanché Company
The Leclanché factory grew successfully until the early 1900s. Then, many new battery companies started, like Wonder cells. Over time, the Leclanché company was bought by different businesses. It was owned by Fulmen battery company and later by the CGE group.
Today, the name Leclanché is used by a company in Yverdon, Switzerland. This company was started in 1909. In 2006, it bought a German company called Bullith. This company is now known as "Leclanché Lithium GmbH" and is located in Willstätt, Germany.
Trivia
- There is a street in Paris named after him: Rue Georges Leclanché.
See also
- Alkaline cell
- Leclanché cell
- Leclanché company
- Carl Gassner
