A Study on Iron Electrode of Ni/Fe Battery(I) -High Utilization of Iron Electrode-

니켈/철 축전지의 철전극에 관한 연구(I) -철전극의 고이용률화-

A study on the iron electrode which is a good material for alkaline battery because of its superior characteristics including high theoretical capacity density, low toxicity, low cost and inexhaustible supply was performed to develop high performance nickel-iron secondary battery. The characteristics of chrage-discharge reaction were examined by cyclic voltammetry technique SEM and XRD analysis. The capacity of the test electrodes was determined by the costant current charge-discharge method. It was found that the purity and particle size of iron material were the major determinant factors of electrode capacity. With the addition of $Na_2S$ into the electrolyte the capacity of electrode was increased about 20 % caused by the prevention of passivation and the increase of hydrogen overpotential. The stability and capacity of electrode were increased with the use of Ni-fibrex and foamed Ni collectors and also depended on the sintering temperature. The capacity of electrode was 350 mAh/g(0.2 C) which corresponded to 36% utility.

고성능 니켈-철 축전지를 개발하기 위하여 알칼리 축전지로 이론적 용량밀도가 높고 저공해성, 저렴한 가격, 자원의 풍부성 등의 우수한 장점을 가지고 있는 철전극에 대한 연구를 수행하였다. 충방전반응의 특성을 전위주사법, SEM, XRD 분석으로 조사하였으며, 또한 전극용량을 정전류 충방전시험법으로 조사하였다. 철의 순도와 입자크기가 전극용량에 크게 영향을 미쳤으며, 첨가제 $Na_2S$는 전극의 부동태화를 방지하고 수소과전압을 높여 전극용량을 20% 정도 증대시켰다. 전극의 안정성과 용량은 Ni-fibrex와 foamed Ni집전체를 사용하여 증대시켰으며, 또한 소결온도에 영향을 받았다. 전극용량은 350 mAh/g(0.2 C)으로 나타났는데, 이는 이용률 36%에 해당한다.