On the electricity excited by the mere contact of conducting substances of different kinds v.90:pt.2 (1800)
60. Electro-Chemical Generation
This paper, in French, was sent by Volta to Sir Joseph Banks in London for
communication to the Royal Society. In it Volta describes the pile of
alternating dissimilar metals (silver and zinc) which, when moist, generated
the flow of constant current electricity. With this new force, water was
decomposed, metal was electro-deposited, the electro-magnet was created and
the elecrical age was begun.