THE CYCLING BEHAVIOR OF MISCH METAL NICKEL-BASED METAL HYDRIDE ELECTRODES AND THE EFFECTS OF COPPER PLATING ON THEIR PERFORMANCE

The electrochemical capacities and the durabilities during galvanostatic charge-discharge cycling of misch metal-nickel-based metal hydride electrodes and the effects of copper plating on their performance have been investigated. The morphology of the electrode surface and the oxygen profile within the copper plating layer were examined by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is found that the MlNi3.45(CoMnTi)1.55 (Ml = misch metal) electrode has good overall characteristics and copper plating on the hydride powder is effective, to some extent, in improving the durability of the electrode.