Cyclic voltammetry response of coprecipitated Ni(OH)2 electrode in 5 M KOH solution

A study of the cyclic voltammetry response of a coprecipitated nickel hydroxide electrode in 5 M KOH solution shows that cobalt, manganese and zinc are beneficial additives in practical nickel batteries because they can increase the overpotentials for oxygen evolution reaction at the nickel hydroxide electrodes and decrease redox peak potentials. By contrast, iron and lead are considered harmful to nickel batteries because they can decrease the overpotentials at the nickel hydroxide electrode. On the other hand, the addition of iron is beneficial to the water electrolysis process. Cobalt can act as antidote to iron and lead in batteries.