Alessandro Volta’s first practical chemical battery, introduced in 1800, was the voltaic pile.
The device consisted of alternating discs of two different metals, commonly zinc and copper, separated by pieces of material soaked in an electrolyte. Chemical reactions at the electrodes created a potential difference, and stacking cells increased the available voltage.
Volta developed the pile after investigating disagreements with Luigi Galvani about electricity observed in animal tissues. His battery supplied a more continuous current than earlier electrostatic machines, making repeatable electrical experiments possible. The invention helped launch systematic research into electrochemistry and electromagnetism.
The modern volt is named after Volta. A voltaic pile is not identical to every later battery design: the Daniell cell and lead-acid battery use different structures and chemistries. Like all chemical batteries, it converts stored chemical energy into electrical energy rather than generating energy without a source.