AC IMPEDANCE STUDIES ON NICKEL-OXIDE ELECTRODES TO DETERMINE SELF-DISCHARGE CHARACTERISTICS OF NI-H2 BATTERIES

AC impedance measurements were made on nickel oxide electrodes in an alkaline medium. The electrodes were prepared by electrodeposition of nickel oxide on nickel foils from a nickel nitrate solution. The main purpose of the investigation was to determine the dependence of impedance parameters on the state of charge of the electrode. The results demonstrated that the current phase shift and impedance modulus vary linearly with state of charge at low frequencies. Hence, the state of charge can be estimated from the values of phase shift and modulus. The state of charge of nickel electrodes exposed to argon and hydrogen was determined at various time intervals. It was found that the electrode exposed to hydrogen discharged faster than that exposed to argon, indicating that hydrogen enhances the self-discharge rate of nickel oxide electrodes.