Charge/discharge

IndiAdual cells are usually precycled before assembling into batteries. Tliese early charge—discharge cycles, often called fomiation cycles, improv e the capacity of the cell by increasing the surface area of the active material and effecting cry stal structure changes. 

In most cases, the impregnation process is followed by an electrochemical formation where the plaques are assembled into large temporary cells filled with 20—30% sodium hydroxide solution, subjected to 1—3 charge—discharge cycles, and subsequentiy washed and dried. This eliminates nitrates and poorly adherent particles. It also increases the effective surface area of the active materials. 

Electrochemistry and Kinetics. The electrochemistry of the nickel—iron battery and the crystal stmctures of the active materials depends on the method of preparation of the material, degree of discharge, the age (Life cycle), concentration of electrolyte, and type and degree of additives, particularly the presence of lithium and cobalt. A simplified equation representing the charge—discharge cycle can be given as ... 

Fig. 13. Charge—discharge characteristics of a nominal 140-A-h silver—iron cell where the charge (-) is at 25 A for 8 h, A represents a 0.25 A float...

A number of manufacturers started commercial production of nickel—MH cells in 1991 (31—35). The initial products are "AA"-size, "Sub-C", and "C -size cells constmcted in a fashion similar to small sealed nickel —cadmium cells. Table 6 compares the Ovonics experimental cell and a similar sized nickel—cadmium cell. Ovonics also deUvered experimental electric vehicle cells, 22 A-h size, for testing. The charge—discharge of "AA" cells produced in Japan (Matsushita) are compared in Figure 22. 

PIa.tes, Plates are the part of the cell that ultimately become the battery electrodes. The plates consist of an electrically conductive grid pasted with a lead oxide—lead sulfate paste which is the precursor to the electrode active materials which participate in the electrochemical charge—discharge reactions. 

Cd(OH)2 is much more basic than Zn(OH)2 and is soluble ia 5 NaOH at 1.3 g/L as the anionic complex tetrahydroxocadmate [26214-93-7] Cd(OH) 4. Technical-grade Cd(OH)2 sold for 74/kg ia 1991 and its most important utihty is as the active anode ia rechargeable Ni—Cd and Ag—Cd storage batteries. The chemical reaction responsible for the charge—discharge of the batteries is (35) ... 

Ozone produced by the negatively charged discharge electrode during gas ionization... 

Two electrochemical lithium/carbon cells were made for each of the pyrolyzed materials. We used currents of 18.5 mA/g (20-hour rate) for the fust three charge-discharge cycles and 37 mA/g (10-hour rate) for the extended cycling test. 

Figure 10. Charge-discharge cycle characteristics of an Ni-Cd battery (cell type 1200SC).

Figure 10 shows the charge-discharge cycle characteristics. As shown in this fig-... 

Figure 15. Reaction mechanism of the charging-discharging reaction of an MH electrode.

Figure 16 shows the charge-discharge cycle characteristics of alloys in which part of the nickel component was replaced with cobalt. Misch metal (Mm), which is a mixture of rare earth elements such as lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium, was used in place of lanthanum. It was found that the partial replacement of nickel with cobalt and the substi-... 

Figure 20 shows the charge-discharge characteristics of the AA-size nickel-metal hydride battery in comparison with the nickel-cadmium battery produced by Sanyo Electric. Its capacity density is 1.5 to 1.8 higher than that of nickel-cadmium batteries. 

Charge-discharge capacity/mAh Figure 20. Charge-discharge characteristics of an Ni—MH battery (cell type AA). 

These techniques are useful for improving cell characteristics such as cell capacity and charge-discharge cycle life. 

Figure 46. Cycling performance of the Li-Al-CDMO cell (ML2430). The number of 100% charge-discharge cycles is calculated until the capacity drops to 100% of the nominal value (end voltage 2.0 V). The number of 5%, 20% and 60% charge-discharge cycles is calculated until an end voltage of 2.0 V.

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