Abstract The discharge capacity of zinc–carbon cells
(Leclanche cell) is limited by the performance of the
cathode material (MnO2) and physical properties of carbon
powder added to MnO2. Acetylene black, Vulcan XC 72,
Black Pearls 2000, and a carbon composite (consisting of
50% acetylene black and 50% Black Pearls 2000®) were
evaluated as cathode additives in test cells and were
compared. The study indicated that cathode mixture with
Black Pearls 2000®showed improvement in performance
than acetylene black, the most commonly used carbon in
commercial zinc–carbon cells. The performance of the test
cells was found to have a correlation with the physical
properties of the carbons used.