DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES ON POROUS IRON ELECTRODES FOR THE NICKEL IRON CELL

The development of sintered iron electrodes for the NiFe battery is mainly aimed at increasing the discharge capacity and minimising self-discharge. Electrodes were prepared by either introducing additives into the iron powder before sintering or adding to powder before pressing. To evaluate the self-discharge characteristics, electrochemically-impregnated additives were studied by chronopotentiometry to determine the discharge behaviour and open-circuit-potential recovery transients of iron electrodes in the NiFe cell. Mercury and sulphur benefit the iron electrode by increasing the discharge capacity and retarding the formation of FeOOH. © 1990.