The Sealed Nickel‐Hydrogen Secondary Cell

Abstract

A recently developed sealed nickel‐hydrogen cell offers considerable promise to develop lightweight, long‐life, rechargeable batteries. The most apparent advantages of this cell are its higher energy and power density as compared with other rechargeable systems including nickel‐cadmium, lead‐acid, and silver‐zinc cells and the regenerative H2‐O2 fuel cell. The energy density for lightweight 50 A‐hr cells shown is 28 W‐hr/lb. The cell enjoys a unique overdischarge protection mechanism which allows for long cycle life at high depth of discharge. Experimental data are presented to define the characteristics of the cell. Over 5000 high rate cycles have been completed on small 1.5 A‐hr cells with good voltage performance. A 50 A‐hr cell has completed to date over 800 cycles discharge to 70% of measured capacity in 1.2 hr.

Rechargeable Batteries for Grid Scale Energy Storage

“…These include relatively short lifetime predominantly because of engineering issues and the instability of the oxygen electrodes, in which even the best catalysts (for instance, Pt) are insufficient in relation to electrochemical reduction . In this regard, the earliest concept of a Ni–H 2 battery presents a brilliant alternative to deal with the stability problems of the oxygen regenerating electrodes by replacing them with a stable solid electrode of nickel hydroxide (Ni­(OH) 2 ) . In the 1970s, a Ni–H 2 battery was developed and employed for aerospace applications owing to its high reliability, long-term stability, and long cycle life .…”

“…Another advantage of the Ni–H 2 batteries is low self-discharge due to its extremely slow reaction kinetics between H 2 gas anode and Ni-based cathode materials. Moreover, the high power density for supporting fast charge/discharge, high reliability, and long cycling lifetime are other supplementary yet fundamental advantages of such battery systems. ,, Figure c shows the discharge curve of the traditional Ni–H 2 cell, which has a distinct discharge voltage plateau of ∼1.25 V, indicating the electrochemical reaction of Ni­(OH) 2 material with respect to the H 2 gas . The lower plateau of ∼0.8 V is ascribed to the accumulation of O 2 gas within the cell.…”

“…First, the preparation of high cost electrocatalysts and efficient hydrogen electrodes is still one of the biggest issues of the HGBs for their development from academia to industry . According to previous HGBs, the working mode and performance requirements of GSES are similar to those of aerospace energy storage except for the high-cost characteristics . It is essential to continually explore novel, low-cost, and highly electroactive bifunctional catalysts for substantial improvement of the overall performance of HGBs.…”

“…707 In this regard, the earliest concept of a Ni−H 2 battery presents a brilliant alternative to deal with the stability problems of the oxygen regenerating electrodes by replacing them with a stable solid electrode of nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH) 2 ). 708 In the 1970s, a Ni−H 2 battery was developed and employed for aerospace applications owing to its high reliability, long-term stability, and long cycle life. 707 Unfortunately, the original Ni−H 2 battery could not be widely used in most commercial applications, mainly due to the use of expensive Pt catalysts and the complex cell manufacturing.…”

“…56 According to previous HGBs, the working mode and performance requirements of GSES are similar to those of aerospace energy storage except for the high-cost characteristics. 708 It is essential to continually explore novel, low-cost, and highly electroactive bifunctional catalysts for substantial improvement of the overall performance of HGBs. Second, the self-discharge performance is a crucial factor to control the reaction kinetics at the interface of the electrode and electrolyte.…”