Volta became interested in Luigi Galvani's experiments on 'animal electricity'. Galvani believed that electricity was generated in animal tissues. Volta, however, began to suspect that the electricity arose from the contact between different metals.

Volta experimented with placing different metals on the tongue and experiencing a taste sensation, furthering his belief that the electricity was generated by the contact of dissimilar metals.

Volta created the voltaic pile, the first true electric battery. It consisted of alternating discs of zinc and copper, separated by cloth soaked in saltwater. This device could produce a continuous electric current, a breakthrough that revolutionized the study of electricity.

Volta presented his invention of the voltaic pile to the Royal Society of London in a letter. This communication marked the official public announcement of his groundbreaking discovery. His work was initially met with a mix of excitement and skepticism.