Effect of Additives in the Stabilization of the α Phase of Ni(OH)[sub 2] Electrodes

The present work deals with the voltammetric and electrogravimetric behavior of electrodes in alkaline solutions and the effect of some additives, such as and in the active material. The electrochemical behavior of the α or β phases with the incorporation of the additives is analyzed by use of the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance. Only as additive leads to the complete stabilization of the α phase avoiding, since the first cycle, the insertion of alkaline cations from the electrolyte. In all other α phases, the electroneutralization of charge is achieved by a small but representative participation of cations. In the case of β electrodes, protons are the responsible for charge compensation, the cations movement being negligible.