Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Zinc electrode shape change. 1; In situ monitoring

Journal Article · · Journal of the Electrochemical Society; (United States)
OSTI ID:6118115
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven (NL)

This paper reports on zinc electrode shape change, the redistribution of zinc material over the electrode during repeated cycling, identified as one of the main life-limiting factors for alkaline nickel oxide/zinc secondary batteries. To investigate this phenomenon in situ, a radiotracer, {sup 65}Zn, is incorporated in the battery and its movement monitored during repeated cycling of the battery. The changes in the distribution of {sup 65}Zn over the electrode during battery operation are attributed to the displacement of radioactive zincate ions via the battery electrolyte. It is shown that the spatial distribution of {sup 65}Zn offers a reliable indication for the zinc material distribution over the electrode, provided an electrode with uniformly specific radioactivity is used in the measurements. Radiotracer experiments using zinc electrodes containing 2 weight percent HgO as an additive and uniformly labeled with {sup 203}Hg, have revealed that during battery cycling no substantial net transport of mercury species occurs.

OSTI ID:
6118115
Journal Information:
Journal of the Electrochemical Society; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society; (United States) Vol. 138:1; ISSN 0013-4651; ISSN JESOA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English