ABSTRACT
Post Graduate Department of Physics, Government Science College, Chitradurga 577501, Karnataka, India
*E-mail: bjmadhu@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Zinc oxide (ZnO) was synthesized by solution combustion technique. The influence of ZnO additive on the β-nickel hydroxide (β-Ni(OH)2) electrode performance was examined. Modified β-Ni(OH)2 with 5% ZnO was prepared by coprecipitation method. Structure of the modified β-Ni(OH)2 with ZnO was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and Fourier-transform infrared analysis. Pasted-type battery electrodes were fabricated using pure β-Ni(OH)2 and modified β-Ni(OH)2 with 5% ZnO as active materials on a nickel sheet as a current collector. Structural and the electrochemical performance of modified β-Ni(OH)2 with ZnO electrode were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and cyclic voltammetry studies. Anodic and cathodic peak potential values were found to reduce after the incorporation of ZnO into the β-Ni(OH)2 electrode. Furthermore, incorporation of ZnO is found to increase the reversibility of an electrode reaction and also enhance the separation of an oxidation current peak from the oxygen evolution current. These results suggest that the
modified β-Ni(OH)2 with 5% ZnO electrode possess better electrochemical properties and hence, can be recognized as a promising candidate for battery electrode applications.
