EFFECT OF STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF METAL-CERAMIC ELECTRODES

A theoretical model is proposed that accounts for the influence exerte d by the structural characteristics of a binary porous system, consist ing of a sintered substrate and an active mass with its own micropores , on the output parameters of metal-ceramic electrodes. The most effic ient factors that are capable of enhancing the electrode capacitance, reduce polarization, and improve performance at high current densities and low temperatures are shown to be the reduction of the average por e radius of the metal-ceramic substrates and the increase (to a certai n limit) in the degree to which they are filled with the active materi al. It is shown that, in the case of the metal-ceramic nickel-oxide el ectrode, it is worthwhile to reduce the substrate pore radius approxim ately to 5 mu m and increase the pore filling with the active mass to 85-90%. This may considerably improve characteristics of the nickel-ca dmium, nickel-zinc, and nickel-metal hydride batteries.