Comparative experimental study of gas evolution and gas consumption reactions in sealed Ni–Cd and Ni–MH cells

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 129; no. 2; pp. 347 - 357
• Main Authors: Cha, Chuansin, Yu, Jingxian, Zhang, Jixiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 22.04.2004; Elsevier Sequoia
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Battery overcharge; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Exact sciences and technology; Gas consumption; Gas generation; Sealed Ni–Cd cell; Sealed Ni–MH cell; Sealed Ni–Cd cell; Sealed Ni–MH cell; Gas consumption; Gas generation; Battery overcharge; Electric batteries; Experimental study; Sealed Ni-MH cell; Sealed Ni-Cd cell; Electrochemical properties; Nickel; Metal Hydrides; Nickel cadmium batteries; State of charge; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2003.11.043

The behavior of the sealed Ni–Cd and Ni–MH systems are compared experimentally with regard to their ability to consume gaseous products generated during the overcharge stage of these systems. It was found that the Ni–Cd system could only consume oxygen, while the Ni–MH system possesses the additional ability to adsorb hydrogen and to catalyze the recombination reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. The internal pressure within both sealed Ni–Cd cells and sealed Ni–MH cells can be kept well under control during the charge/overcharge processes if the rate of overcharge is not too high and if there is sufficient surplus of charging capacity at the negative electrodes. However, the internal pressure can rise to dangerously high levels if the rate of overcharge is too high or there is a deficiency of the charging capacity at the negative electrodes. The various factors that may affect the surplus of charging capacity of the negative electrodes are also discussed.