Recent advancements in aluminum materials and aluminum electrochemistr
y open a current density compatibility domain in which aluminum anodes
and nickel oxide cathodes can simultaneously discharge at high farada
ic efficiency, The resultant overlapping compatibility region permits
demonstration of an aluminum/nickel battery capable of unusually high
specific power density and high specific energy density Al + 3NiOOH NaOH + 3H(2)O --> NaAl(OH)(4) + 3Ni(OH)(2) The operational cell mainta
ins a steady-state discharge voltage in excess of 2.3 V. Aluminum/nick
el battery discharges are presented which yield a power density of 915
W/kg, and a specific energy density of up to 140 Wh/kg.