Research on the Nanoscale Additives to the Ni(OH)2 Electrodes for High Power Ni/MH Batteries

As the positive electrodes of Ni/MH batteries, the Ni(OH)2 Electrodes needs some additives to enhance their high power performance. In this paper, two kinds of nanoscale additives were synthesized and added to the Ni(OH)2 electrodes respectively and the high rate discharge capabilities of both electrodes were investigated. Compared with the Ni(OH)2 electrodes with usual CoO, the electrodes with carbon nanotubes and with nanoscale carbon particles modified onto the surface of Ni(OH)2 spheres both presented much better cycling stability and higher specific capacity when discharged at high current rate. It is suggested that when the nanoscale additives were added to the electrodes, more sufficient conductive networks formed among Ni(OH)2 spheres. The results indicate that the nanoscale materials such as carbon nanotubes and nanoscale carbon particles are desirable additives for high power Ni/MH batteries in addition to usual CoO.