Xia Baojia

Studies on the anodic behavior of aluminum electrodes in alkaline solution

Abstract An efficient process for developing aluminum alloys for alkaline battery anodes is described. The addition of gallium to aluminum eliminates remarkably the anisotropy of aluminum, and thus renders its electrode potential more negative. The uniform distribution of alloying elements is an essential factor for lowering the corrossion rate of the alloy. The accumulation of an alloying element at intergranular bounderies, or the formation of a secondary phase that contains the element, will result in a rise in the corrosion rate of aluminum.

Degradation mechanism of the misch metal alloy hydride electrodes

Abstract Pieces of nonpulverized misch metal (Mm) alloy were used as working electrodes (WEs). The WEs were cathodically charged in H2 and O2 atmospheres, respectively, and the electrode potentials were determined. The morphologies of definite areas of WEs were observed by SEM, and the surface composition in chemical elements of these areas were determined by EPMA. The results indicated that the main causes of the degradation of WEs might be the increase of internal stress, the expansion of crystal lattice, and the preferential dissolution of Mm during charging, rather than the oxidation of the alloy by O2, which was accordant with the presence of La3+ and Ni2+ in the MH electrode of MH/Ni batteries after cycling.