The Anodic Oxidation of Manganese Oxides in Alkaline Electrolytes

Manganese dioxide electrodes are discharged in electrolytes of and immediately reoxidized anodically. The efficiency of the oxidation, determined by chemical analysis as well as subsequent cathodic reduction, is a function of the concentration of and decreases as the concentration increases from . In , is reduced to a species tentatively identified as an active form of manganese (III) oxide, which can be efficiently reoxidized to . In , however, is reduced first to manganese (III) oxide and subsequently to manganese (II) oxide. This manganese (II) oxide can be recharged only to an inactive form of manganese (III) oxide which is not reoxidized efficiently to .