Synthesis of nanosized nickel hydroxide by solid-state reaction at room temperature

The nanosized cathode material Ni(OH)(2) powder for alkaline batteries was synthesized by solid-state reaction at room temperature through NiC2O4.2H(2)O as precursor, which was also prepared with solid-state reaction from nickel acetate and oxalic acid at ambient temperature. The precursor and the Ni(OH)(2) samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectrometry (IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrochemical testing. The results revealed that the as-synthesized Ni(OH)2 sample by this method is beta(II)-type phase, and its shape is fibroid with the average particle size of 6-9 nm. Compared with microsized spherical beta-Ni(OH)(2), the nanosized beta-Ni(OH)(2) exhibits excellent electrochemical performance, such as lower polarization and better charge-discharge properties. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.