INDUSTRIAL ELECTRO-CHEMISTRY 153 



considered as essentially unsuitable for this purpose. The 

 researches were mostly made along the lines of alkaline bat- 

 teries. Finally the aim was the design of an oxygen lift 

 cell, with potassium or sodium hydroxide as electrolyte and 

 electrodes simpl)^ undergoing oxidation and reduction and 

 insoluble in the electrolyte in all states of oxidation. Several 

 inventors have worked along this line, among them Jungner. 

 But commercial success was first attained by Thomas A. 

 Edison with his nickel iron battery, which, it seems, will have 

 a field of its own, especially for automobile work. 



