Development of Iron-Based Rechargeable Batteries with Sintered Porous Iron Electrodes

We have developed sintered porous iron negative electrodes used for iron-based rechargeable batteries such as iron-air and nickeliron batteries. The water-atomized iron powders having a diameter of a several tens micrometers were mixed with polyvinyl alcohol that acted as a pore former, and sintered at 1120. degrees C for 20 min in N-2 atmosphere. The iron electrodes were examined for iron-air batteries as well as three electrodes cell. Two distinct plateaus were observed in the discharge curve and the capacity of the iron air batteries exceeded 100 mAh/g(Fe). The proposed electrodes are promising for cost effective, highly safe, and environmental friendly rechargeable batteries.