Effects of flaky rare earth oxide additives on the high temperature performance of nickel electrodes

Effects of flaky rare earth oxide additives including Er2O3, Tm2O3, and Yb2O3, Lu2O3 on high temperature and high rate discharge performance of nickel electrodes were investigated. The discharge efficiency at 0.2C reached 96% at 60 °C for electrodes with 1 at.% flaky rare earth oxides. The high rate discharge performance for electrodes with flaky rare earth oxides were improved significantly, for example, discharge efficiency at 5C improved from 50% to 70%. The results showed that the end charging potential of the nickel electrodes with flaky rare earth oxides were higher than that without rare earth oxide additives, but lower than that with normal rare earth oxide additives. The CVs experimental results suggested that flaky rare earth oxides increased the oxygen evolution potential and improved the reversibility of nickel electrodes.