A high performance rechargeable NiZn battery offers a viable alternative to hazardous NiCd cells
That is the headline of an article that claimed that French and Spanish partners in EUREKA project NITIN SCOOTER made the breakthrough that will finally make nickel zinc (NiZn) batteries economically viable. Tests conducted in-house and by independent testing centers, including the R&D Center of Electricite de France, demonstrate that their NiZn batteries meet commercial requirements in terms of high cycle life, high specific energy and power, and low cost. The partners in this EUREKA project have overcome this problem and can now produce a safe alternative to NiCd that can be used for over 1000 charging cycles.
The battery was developed while researching a new rechargeable battery for electric scooters. The resultant battery is environmentally friendly, inexpensive and performs well, providing energy for large and small applications requiring a rechargeable battery. The project partners have now created successful prototypes and are looking for additional partners to take advantage of the potentially huge market for the new batteries, either as the power supply for a scooter or as a more general replacement for hazardous NiCd cells.
NITIN SCOOTER made use of a copper foam developed by S.C.P.S. in EUREKA project E! 2179 3D STRUCTURES. By adding fine particles of a new conductive ceramic from Spanish partner, SHS Ceramicas, the consortium succeeded in stabilizing the electrode, preventing the damaging formation of zinc compounds that caused loss of conductivity and short circuits.
According to the S.C.P.S. web site, the answer to traditional zinc anode troubles has been found through the definition of a new zinc electrode which combines three key-components
- a conductive collector network, constituted by a specific "3D" structure (a copper foam), in which is pasted a plasticized active mass
- particles of conductive ceramics, creating a secondary conductive "micro" network in the active mass
- specific co-additives, linked with the ceramic particles, in charge of increasing zincate retention in the anode
The direct cost of this battery is about 33% less than the NiCd battery and gives a 40% greater power density. The batteries are available in capacities up to about 100 Ah.
I hadn't heard of this battery chemistry before, (shame on me), but it sounds like it has a place in the wold of commercial, environmentally free battery chemistry's.
Technocrati tag: batteries
I've found some really good explanations about NiTiN batteries on the following website :
www.nitin-batteries.com
There are some results of the tests of the R&D Center of Electricite de France.
Alain
Posted by: Alain | October 11, 2005 at 12:04 PM
Having worked on Zn electrodes during a good part of my career, I am impressed about what I read about this battery. Where can I purchase cells or batteries?
Fritz, curious.
Posted by: Fritz G. Will, Ph D | November 07, 2005 at 08:01 PM
really good explanations about NiTiN batteries
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