Stannate Increases Hydrogen Evolution Overpotential on Rechargeable Alkaline Iron Electrodes

Alkaline iron electrodes present some challenges for use in secondary batteries that are associated with low coulombic efficiency and discharge utilization. Low coulombic efficiency is correlated to the hydrogen evolution reaction that takes place during charge. In this work, we demonstrate rechargeable alkaline iron electrodes with significant capacity retention over 150 cycles with high efficiency by suppressing the hydrogen evolution with stannate. Adding stannate to the alkaline electrolyte when cycling the iron electrode drastically changes the electrochemistry. The additive brings on two advantageous attributes for the iron electrode: increased hydrogen evolution overpotential, and a flat and prolonged discharge curve at typical battery operation. These attributes were provided by a novel intermediate phase that was detected from in situ neutron diffraction measurements. This phase was only detected in situ while it decomposed ex situ, and indicated a solid solution constituted by some of the elements present in the electrode.