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Development of long-lived high-performance zinc-calcium/nickel oxide cells

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Abstract

The addition of Ca(OH)2 to the zinc electrode of Zn/KOH/NiOOH cells was investigated in order to determine its effect on the rate of zinc active material redistribution (shape change) and cell cycle-life performance. Cells of equal mass and capacity, and therefore the same specific energy, containing 0, 10, 25, and 40 mol% Ca(OH)2 in their zinc electrodes were constructed and tested. The Ca(OH)2 and Zn(OH) 2−4 -supersaturated KOH solution formed a calcium-zincate complex during the discharge half-cycle. The solubility of this complex is less than that of ZnO, and the lower zinc species solubility leads to a slower rate of Zn redistribution, thereby extending the cell cycle life. The best cells tested were those with 25%-Ca(OH)2 electrodes, which lost capacity at a rate of 0.13%/cycle, compared to 0.47%/cycle in calcium-free control cells constructed in the same manner. Also, zinc active material utilization in the calcium-containing electrodes showed a dramatic improvement, compared to the calcium-free zinc electrodes.

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Author notes

  1. R. Jain

    Present address: , 254-E College Avenue, 94306, Palo Alto, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy & Environment Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, 94720, Berkeley, CA, USA

    R. Jain, T. C. Adler, F. R. McLarnon & E. J. Cairns

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  1. R. Jain
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  2. T. C. Adler
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  3. F. R. McLarnon
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  4. E. J. Cairns
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Jain, R., Adler, T.C., McLarnon, F.R. et al. Development of long-lived high-performance zinc-calcium/nickel oxide cells. J Appl Electrochem 22, 1039–1048 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01029582

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01029582

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