Nickel-Based Battery Systems

Table 11. Separators and Their Manufacturers for Nickel and Zinc Based Battery Systems...

In contrast to lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion battery systems have always an integrated battery management, which has to be able to communicate with the power electronic components (battery inverter, charge controller) and the supervisory energy management system. Therefore, the power electronic components have to provide an appropriate interface. Furthermore, the internal battery management of the battery inverter or the charge controller, which is used for lead-acid batteries or nickel based batteries, has to be deactivated. 

Nickel-zinc provides the lowest-cost option for a long-cycle-life alkaline-rechargeable system. The nickel-zinc system is suited for mobile applications such as electric bicycles, electric scooters and electric and hybrid vehicles or other deep cycle applications. Nickel-zinc may also replace other nickel based batteries with a less expensive system. 

Most water-based battery systems, such as nickel-cadmium, where the electrolyte is in an aqueous solvent, are limited to around 1.5 to 2 volts, whereas a lithium battery can give 3 to 4 volts per cell. Since lithium batteries can store more energy than other systems, most research effort on rechargeable batteries is focused on lithium technology (Koksbang et al, 1994 Sequeira, 1983b, 1987 Sequeira and Hooper, 1985 Sequeira and Marquis, 1986 Stephan, 2006). 

In this chapter, we will highlight the improvements made possible in some of the battery systems and, in particular, lead-acid, nickel-based batteries and lithium-ion batteries (LlBs) through nanostructural design of electrode materials. 

Apart from its historical interest, this brief survey over the centuries from 1800 to 2000 helps underscore the fact that key developments in battery research and technology have always come in response to specific sector demands that have in turn followed signal scientific advances. Nowadays, the three main rechargeable systems are the lead-, nickel-, and lithium-based batteries. While the first two, with their roots in the last century, are undergoing continual refinement to improve their performance in today s applications, the last is the result of the most recent research into new materials and the one that offers greater expectations. 

According to Burke and Twomey45 nickel metal in base oxidizes just above 0 V (RHE) to form an initially anionic Ni(II) species. The Ni(II)/Ni(III) reaction, which is the main process of interest in battery systems, occurs at ca. 1.4 V (RHE). Thick oxide films... 

The nickel-based systems have traditionally included the following systems -nickel-iron (Ni/Fe), nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel metal hydrides (NiMH), nickel hydrogen (Ni/H2), and nickel-zinc (Ni/Zn). Of these, the metal hydride chemistry has been the most successful in the secondary battery market. AU nickel systems are based on the use of a nickel oxide active material (undergoing one valence change from charge to discharge or vice-versa). The electrodes can be pocket type, sintered type, fibrous type, foam type, pasted type, or plastic roll-bonded type. All systems use an alkaline electrolyte, KOH. 

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