Nickel-positive electrodes obtained by electrochemical impregnation of alum
inum-substituted alpha-nickel hydroxide are found to deliver a reversible d
ischarge capacity of ca. 450 mAh/g. This is much higher than the capacity o
f beta-nickel hydroxide electrodes [200 mAh/g: this work; 225 mAh/g: Dixit
et al., J. Power Sources, 63, 167 (1996)] prepared under identical conditio
ns and pasted electrodes comprising cobalt-doped nickel hydroxide [345 mAh/
g: Faure et al., J. Power Sources, 36, 497 (1991)]. These observations sugg
est that the theoretical target-capacity for high-performance nickel-positi
ve electrodes must be revised from the currently accepted value of 289 mAh/
g (le exchange) to 491 mAh/g [1.7e exchange: Corrigan and Knight, J. Electr
ochem. Soc., 136, 613 (1989)]. (C) 1999 The Electrochemical Society. S1099-
0062(98)08-044-4. All rights reserved.