This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/761,312, filed Feb. 6, 2013; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/927,304, filed Jan. 14, 2014, which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The present invention is in the technical field of energy storage devices. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of rechargeable batteries using an iron anode and a nickel cathode.
Iron electrodes have been used in energy storage batteries and other devices for over one hundred years. Iron electrodes are often combined with a nickel base cathode to form a nickel-iron battery. The nickel-iron battery (Ni—Fe battery) is a rechargeable battery having a nickel (III) oxide-hydroxide cathode and an iron anode, with an electrolyte such as potassium hydroxide. The active materials are held in nickel-plated steel tubes or perforated pockets. It is a very robust battery which is tolerant of abuse, (overcharge, overdischarge, and short-circuiting) and can have a relatively long life. It is often used in backup situations where it can be continuously charged and can last for more than 20 years. Due to its low specific energy, poor charge retention, and high cost of manufacture, however, other types of rechargeable batteries have displaced the nickel-iron battery in most applications.