silver oxide battery

Maxell successfully commercialized the first SR button-type silver oxide battery in Japan in 1976. It has been adopted for small electronic devices based on 45 years of manufacturing experience and quality.

The silver oxide battery is a primary battery that mainly uses silver oxide as the positive electrode active material, zinc as the negative electrode active material, and an aqueous alkali solution as the electrolyte solution.

Due to its high energy per unit volume and stable operating voltage characteristics, it became established as a power supply for quartz watches (analog watches) requiring high accuracy. In recent years, applications have expanded to a wide range of fields such as medical devices equipped with Bluetooth® Low Energy.

Maxell is manufacturing all models of silver oxide batteries and alkaline button batteries without using mercury and lead, with the aim of reducing their environmental impact. Maxell meets customers’ requests with an extensive lineup. For details, please contact Maxell.

  • Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.

Features of silver oxide batteries (SR)

Stable operating voltage and high capacity

Silver oxide and zinc are respectively used as the main positive electrode and negative electrode active materials, and the operating voltage is stable during discharge. It has high energy density per unit volume and can attain higher capacities than those of alkaline button batteries.

Superior load characteristics

Excellent load discharge characteristics are possible due to the adoption of an alkaline electrolyte.

The long-life*1 low-drain type (SW), suitable for equipment that operates for long periods of time with light loads such as analog watches, and the high-drain type (W), suitable for equipment that is expected to be used for short periods of time with heavy loads such as medical equipment and multifunction digital watches with alarms and LED lights, are configured according to electrolyte composition.

*1 Approx. twice the leak-resistant life of Maxell's high-drain types (W)

Superior leakage*2 resistance

Featuring Maxell's original leak-resistant processing, the SR battery has excellent leakage resistance, which suppresses the electrolyte from rising up and seeping out — a basic phenomenon of alkaline electrolytes.

*2 Leakage is defined as an unintended escape of liquid from a battery.

Superior leakage resistance

Excellent capacity retention rate

Original negative electrode material composition shows superior capacity retention rate. For the main models, the SR920SW, SR626SW, and SR621SW, an annual capacity deterioration rate of about 2% has been achieved for standard capacity.

capacity retention rate

Mercury-free

Although mercury was previously added to silver oxide batteries to prevent the degradation of battery performance, Maxell has realized superior leakage resistance without using mercury or lead, producing “mercury-free” batteries across all models, based on Maxell’s unique technology.

Consideration for the environment

All models of Maxell’s silver oxide batteries are manufactured without using mercury or lead as part of Maxell’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact. For this reason, these batteries comply with the EU Battery Directive.

Product Range
Differences between long-life low-drain type (SW) and high-drain type (W) batteries

Maxell offers multiple types of silver oxide batteries to support a wide range of applications.

Long-life low-drain type (SW) Suitable mainly for devices intended for long-term use at low power such as quartz watches (analog watches), thermometers, and measuring tools.
High-drain type (W) Suitable for equipment that requires high power such as multifunction digital watches equipped with backlights, stopwatches and alarm functions, medical equipment, and Bluetooth® Low Energy equipment.

Maxell has been developing "special specification" batteries in addition to their standard long-life low-drain type (SW) and high-drain type (W) to meet such market demands as long life and multi-functionalization, which in recent years are required for small electronic devices.

Special specification Long-life silver oxide batteries

A special long-life silver oxide battery designed for long-life applications has about double the leakage resistance of long-life low-drain type (SW) standard models. For this reason, this model is especially suitable for equipment that is used for long periods of time.

Special specification Long-life silver oxide battery

Special specification High-drain type (developmental model)

The special high-drain type (developmental model) has about three times the load characteristics of high-drain (W) standard models. Consequently, it can be used for equipment that requires a higher current than previously required.

Special specification High-drain type (developmental model)

Applications

Silver oxide batteries (SR)

  • CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring)
  • Capsule endoscopes
  • Analog watches/Digital watches
  • Bluetooth® Low Energy devices

Alkaline button batteries (LR)

  • Bluetooth® Low Energy devices
  • Medical thermometers
  • Personal alarms
  • LED lights

SR silver oxide battery application

Specifications

SR: Long-life*1 low-drain type (SW)

ModelNominal
Voltage
(V)
Nominal
Capacity
(mAh)*2
Nominal
Discharge
Current
(µA)
Diameter
(mm)
Height
(mm)
Weight
(g)
for UseWarnings
SR44SW 1.55 165 200 11.6 5.4 2.1 Analog watch
Thermometer
pdf
SR43SW 1.55 125 100 11.6 4.2 1.7
SR1136SW 1.55 100 100 11.6 3.6 1.6
SR1130SW 1.55 83 100 11.6 3.05 1.2
SR1120SW 1.55 55 100 11.6 2.05 1.0
SR1116SW 1.55 29 50 11.6 1.65 0.7
SR936SW 1.55 71 100 9.5 3.6 0.9
SR927SW 1.55 55 100 9.5 2.73 0.8
50
SR920SW 1.55 45 50 9.5 2.05 0.7
35 0.6
SR916SW 1.55 26.5 50 9.5 1.65 0.5
SR914SW 1.55 22 35 9.5 1.45 0.45
SR41SW 1.55 45 50 7.9 3.6 0.7
SR731SW 1.55 36 50 7.9 3.1 0.7
SR726SW 1.55 35 50 7.9 2.6 0.5
SR721SW 1.55 25 30 7.9 2.1 0.45
SR716SW 1.55 23 30 7.9 1.68 0.3
22
SR712SW 1.55 10 20 7.9 1.29 0.25
SR626SW 1.55 30 30 6.8 2.6 0.4
27
24
SR621SW 1.55 23 30 6.8 2.15 0.3
18
SR616SW 1.55 16 20 6.8 1.65 0.3
15
SR527SW 1.55 17 30 5.8 2.7 0.3
SR521SW 1.55 16 20 5.8 2.15 0.2
13
SR516SW 1.55 12.5 20 5.8 1.65 0.2
SR512SW 1.55 5.5 5 5.8 1.25 0.14
SR421SW 1.55 12 20 4.8 2.15 0.17
SR416SW 1.55 8.3 10 4.8 1.65 0.12

*1 Approx. twice the leak-resistant life of Maxell's high-drain types (W)

*2 Nominal capacity indicates the duration until the voltage drops to 1.2 V when discharged at a nominal discharge current at 20 deg. C.

  • Data and dimensions are not guaranteed. For further details, please contact your nearest Maxell office.

SR: High-drain type (W)

ModelNominal
Voltage
(V)
Nominal
Capacity
(mAh)*
Nominal
Discharge
Current
(µA)
Diameter
(mm)
Height
(mm)
Weight
(g)
for UseWarnings
SR44W 1.55 165 200 11.6 5.4 2.1 Digital watch pdf
SR43W 1.55 125 200 11.6 4.2 1.8
SR1130W 1.55 79 100 11.6 3.05 1.2
SR1120W 1.55 55 100 11.6 2.05 1.0
SR936W 1.55 75 100 9.5 3.6 0.9
SR927W 1.55 60 100 9.5 2.73 0.8
57
SR920W 1.55 39 100 9.5 2.05 0.6
SR916W 1.55 23 50 9.5 1.65 0.5
SR41W 1.55 39 50 7.9 3.6 0.7
SR726W 1.55 28 50 7.9 2.6 0.5
SR721W 1.55 25 50 7.9 2.1 0.45
SR716W 1.55 18 30 7.9 1.68 0.3
SR626W 1.55 30 50 6.8 2.6 0.4
SR621W 1.55 18 50 6.8 2.15 0.3

* Nominal capacity indicates the duration until the voltage drops to 1.2 V when discharged at a nominal discharge current at 20 deg. C.

  • Data and dimensions are not guaranteed. For further details, please contact your nearest Maxell office.

LR: Alkaline button batteries

ModelNominal
Voltage
(V)
Nominal
Capacity
(mAh)*
Nominal
Discharge
Current
(µA)
Diameter
(mm)
Height
(mm)
Weight
(g)
for UseWarnings
LR44 1.5 120 100 11.6 5.4 1.9 - pdf
LR43 1.5 75 100 11.6 4.2 1.5
LR1130 1.5 45 100 11.6 3.05 1.2
LR1120 1.5 55 100 11.6 2.05 0.9
LR41 1.5 25 70 7.9 3.6 0.6

* Nominal capacity indicates the duration until the voltage drops to 1.2 V when discharged at a nominal discharge current at 20 deg. C.

  • Data and dimensions are not guaranteed. For further details, please contact your nearest Maxell office.
  • All models are "mercury free"
  • Maxell’s silver oxide batteries comply with the EU Battery Directive and are manufactured without intentionally adding mercury to the battery materials.
  • Data and dimensions are not guaranteed. For further details, please contact your nearest Maxell office.
  • Contents on this website are subject to change without notice.

Construction of silver oxide battery (SR)

Construction Silver Oxide Battery

Principle and reaction

The button-type silver oxide battery respectively uses silver oxide and zinc as the main positive electrode and negative electrode active materials, and respectively uses an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution for the long-life low-drain type (SW) and high-drain type (W) electrolyte solutions. For this reason, operating voltage is stable up to the end of discharge.

Battery reactions of silver oxide battery
Positive reaction : Ag2O+H2O+2e- → 2Ag+2OH-
Negative reaction : Zn+2OH- → ZnO+H2O+2e-
Total reaction : Ag2O+Zn → 2Ag+ZnO
Battery reactions of alkaline button battery
Total reaction : 2MnO2+Zn+H2O → 2MnOOH+ZnO

Safety precautions

If misused, this battery may deform, leak (the liquid inside the battery may leak to the outside), generate heat, explode, or ignite.
Since such misuse may cause injury or equipment failure, please be sure to read and observe [Warnings and Cautions].

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