CATHODIC REDUCTION OF DIFFERENT METAL SALT-SOLUTIONS - PART I - SYNTHESIS OF METAL-HYDROXIDES BY ELECTROGENERATION OF BASE

The yield of metal hydroxides obtained by electrolysis of chloride bat hs is greater than the yield obtained from nitrate baths showing that the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) contributes as much to electroge neration of base as the nitrate reduction reaction. This observation h as implications for the fabrication of nickel hydroxide positive elect rodes for alkaline secondary cells, and widens the scope of electrosyn thesis to include chloride, sulphate and other anion containing a-nick el hydroxides and other layered hydroxides. Electrosynthesis of Mg(OH) (2) has been investigated as a model synthesis.