- Nickel-zinc battery
The nickel-zinc battery (sometimes abbreviated NiZn) is a type of
rechargeable battery commonly used in the lightelectric vehicle sector.History
Developed by an Irish chemist, Dr
James J. Drumm (1897-1974) [ [http://www.ul.ie/~childsp/CinA/Issue46/fam_chem.html Famous Irish Chemists: James J. Drumm] ] and installed in four 2-car Drumm Railcar sets between 1932 and 1948 for use on the Dublin-Bray line. Although successful they were then withdrawn when the batteries wore out. The Nickel-zinc battery can last for hundreds of discharge cycles.Applications
The battery is still not commonly found in the
mass market , but they are considered as the next generation batteries used for high drain applications, and is expected to replacelead-acid batteries because of their higher energy to mass ratio and higher power to mass ratio (up to 75% lighter for the same power), and are relatively cheap compared tonickel-cadmium batteries (expected to be priced somewhere in between NiCd and lead-acids, but have twice the energy storing capacity).Electrochemistry
Charge Reaction: 2Ni(OH)2(s) + Zn(OH)2(s) ↔ 2Ni(OH)3(s) + Zn(s)
Note that the stoichiometry above is different than below, but the reactions are identical. Technically, water is consumed and generated on the charge and discharge cycles.
Discharge Reaction: H2O + Zn + 2NiOOH ↔ ZnO +2Ni(OH)2
OCV: ~1.74V
References
External links
* [http://www.powergenix.com/technology2.htm Powergenix] - Developer and Manufacturer of nickel zinc batteries
* [http://www.xellerion.com] - Branch of Evionyx who has all infos on NiZn battery
* [http://www.evionyx.com eVionyx] - Developer and manufacturer of NiZN and Zinc Air batteries
* [http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/11420911/eVionyx_NiZn_Battery_Xell_18.html eVionyx Taiwan] - Taiwan manufacturer of eVionyx products
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