Mixed Nickel Hydroxide Electrode Material for Alkaline Battery Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The initial activation of α-nickel hydroxide in alkaline secondary batteries is difficult to achieve, leading to increased production steps and potential battery damage or capacity deterioration, and adding erbium or thulium hydroxides reduces discharge capacity.
Innovation Solution
A nickel hydroxide composition containing a mixture of α-nickel hydroxide and β-nickel hydroxide particles, with a β-nickel hydroxide ratio of less than 75% by mass, and trivalent cations like Al, Ga, or Mn to stabilize α-nickel hydroxide, enhancing initial activation and reaction electron capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If α-nickel hydroxide is used as the active material to improve capacity, then the capacity per nickel weight is outstandingly improved, but the initial activation of the battery is hardly achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of α-nickel hydroxide particles combined with specific additives (cobalt hydroxide, zinc oxide, or aluminum hydroxide) to create a nickel hydroxide composition that maintains the high capacity benefits of α-nickel hydroxide while improving initial activation performance through the synergistic effects of the composite components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the compositional parameters by controlling the ratios of different nickel hydroxide phases (α-type and β-type) and adding specific metal hydroxides or oxides in controlled amounts to modify the electrochemical properties and improve initial activation without sacrificing capacity
2Reliability
If hydroxide of erbium or thulium is added to α-nickel hydroxide to improve activation, then activation is enhanced, but the ratio of active material decreases and substantial discharge capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive rare earth hydroxides (erbium or thulium) with more economical alternatives such as cobalt hydroxide, zinc oxide, or aluminum hydroxide that provide similar activation benefits without the cost and capacity penalties associated with rare earth elements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the compositional parameters by limiting the additive content to 5 mass% or less of the total nickel hydroxide composition, thereby maintaining high discharge capacity while achieving sufficient activation through the selected additive materials
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The mixed nickel hydroxide composition allows for easier initial activation of alkaline secondary batteries and increases the theoretical number of reaction electrons, reducing the number of activation cycles and maintaining discharge capacity.
Implementation Method 1
An oxidation-reduction reaction at the time of charge-discharge of an active material of the nickel electrode is a 'one-electron reaction' in which the oxidation number of nickel varies from +2 to +3
Data Source
AI summary
A nickel hydroxide for an alkaline secondary battery, wherein the nickel hydroxide contains α-nickel hydroxide particles and β-nickel hydroxide particles, and the ratio of the β-nickel hydroxide to the total amount of the nickel hydroxide is less than 75% by mass.