Effects of substrates, their treatments, and formation regimes on nickel electrode performance

Book · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:187011

Lim, H S; Zelter, G R; Montague, F D ^[1]; Smithrick, J J ^[2]

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1. Hughes Space and Communications Co., Torrance, CA (United States)
2. NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH (United States)

The authors have prepared nickel electrodes of various design parameters using high porosity (88% porous), lightweight nickel substrates. The substrates were made of a mixed sintered mat of nickel fibers, nickel powder, and optional cobalt powder. Design parameters studied for their effects include substrate type (presence of cobalt powder), cobalt oxide coating of the substrate, post impregnation of cobalt hydroxide in the active material, KOH concentration in the electrode formation tank, and electrical regime of formation. Electrode capacity and electrochemical utilization of the active material have been studied in 26 and 31% KOH electrolyte and through a cycling test at 40% depth of discharge for 615 cycles in an electrolyte flooded cell. Results showed beneficial effects of the Co oxide coating and an alternate cycle regime for the electrode formation while there were no appreciable effects of the substrate type, post impregnation of cobalt hydroxide, or KOH concentration of the formation electrolyte. The electrodes with substrate of Co oxide coating initially gave approximately 3% higher utilization than those without the coating. The electrodes formed in a new alternate formation regime gave approximately 2% higher utilization than those formed in a the standard formation regime. The utilization values of those with Co oxide coating after 327 cycles were improved by 5% over the initial value while the utilization of those without the coating did not improve, showing that the benefit of the Co oxide coating after 327 cycles is substantial (8%).

• OSTI ID: 187011
• Report Number(s): CONF-950729--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
DESIGN
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRODES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
NICKEL-HYDROGEN BATTERIES
PERFORMANCE
POTASSIUM HYDROXIDES
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
WEIGHT