POWDERY HYDROGEN OCCLUDING ALLOY AND NEGATIVE ELECTRODE USING THE SAME

摘要

PURPOSE: To obtain a material fit for a negative electrode for a hermetically sealed nickel-hydrogen storage battery by increasing the magnetization of a powdery hydrogen occluding alloy per unit specific surface area by surface treatment. CONSTITUTION: A powdery hydrogen occluding alloy such as LmNi5 (Lm is misch metal) is surface-treated preferably by immersion and stirring in an aq. soln. of an acid such as hydrochloric acid or an alkali such as NaOH to increase the magnetization of the alloy to >=0.9emu per 1m<2> specific surface area. The resultant powdery hydrogen occluding alloy is formed with a binder into the objective negative electrode for a nickel-hydrogen storage battery. When this electrode is used, the capacity and initial activity of the battery can be increased and the service life can be prolonged.