# AA lithium batteries

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aa-lithium-batteries/116004>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 26, 2002, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aa-lithium-batteries/116004 "2002-06-26T07:53:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aa-lithium-batteries/116004/1 "2002-06-26T07:53:16Z")

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I mean non-rechargeable lithium batteries. I recently learned that they are available in 1.5V AA packages. But I thought the battery chemistry determines the voltage, and lithium produces 3V? How do they get it down to 1.5V?

And how long have those been around? I don’t think I’ve even seen them in Japan yet.

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**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aa-lithium-batteries/116004/2 "2002-06-26T08:03:00Z")

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i don’t believe that chemistry decides the voltage. i mean, i think 9V and AA batteries (of the same brand and special type (alkaline, whateva- ‘special type’)) all use the same chemistry.

it’s the amounts of the chemicals, the proportions and all, and the spacing of the battery elements. i think.

jb

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**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aa-lithium-batteries/116004/3 "2002-06-26T08:09:14Z")

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Sorry, I guess I should have said the chemistry determines the voltage of a _cell_. A 9-volt battery is made up of six alkaline cells connected in series (1.5V x 6 = 9V). But a single lithium cell is 3 volts, isn’t it? How do you get 1.5V from that? If it’s a different chemistry, why is it still called by the same name?

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**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aa-lithium-batteries/116004/4 "2002-06-26T12:16:32Z")

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I wanted to know that myself.

My wag is that lithium is one side of the battery, usually paired with X. For these 1.5V batts they use Y.

Not very helpful, I know.

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**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aa-lithium-batteries/116004/5 "2002-06-26T15:06:55Z")

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According to [this page at Energizer](http://data.energizer.com/batteryinfo/other_available/typical_characteristics.htm) (far right column), **k2dave** is right, and X = MnO[sub]2[/sub] and Y = FeS[sub]2[/sub].