Preparation of Ce(OH)3/calcium zincate composite materials and performance in zinc-nickel batteries

Surface deposited Ce(OH)3/calcium zincate was prepared using a hydrothermal coprecipitation method. X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy images showed that the hydrothermal co-precipitation method can deposit Ce(OH)3 on the surface of calcium zincate. The electrochemical performance was investigated for calcium zincate and Ce(OH)3/calcium zincate with different mass fractions of Ce(OH)3 by cyclic voltammetry, Tafel polarization, galvanostatic charge–discharge measurement, and cycle charge–discharge analysis. The initial discharge capacity reached 411.26 mAh·g−1 for the calcium zincate electrode and the discharge capacity decreased to 356.11 mAh·g−1 after 100 cycles, with a cycle retention rate of 86.59 %. Compared with calcium zincate electrode, Ce(OH)3/calcium zincate with different mass fractions of Ce(OH)3 electrode had higher discharge capacities, and more stable cycling performance, especially the sample with 8% Ce(OH)3/calcium zincate. After 100 cycles, the retention rate for the sample with 8% Ce(OH)3/calcium zincate electrode was 89.28 %.