Electrochemical Properties of Nickel Hydroxide Electrode Materials

Nickel hydroxide electrode materials exhibit reversible redox transitions between Ni(II) and Ni(III) states within alkaline media, underpinning their widespread use in rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors. The two principal polymorphs, α- and β-Ni(OH)2, display contrasting interlayer structures: the α phase accommodates extraneous anions and water, enhancing specific capacity but suffering from structural instability, whereas the β phase offers superior cycling durability at the cost of lower energy density. Morphological engineering at the nanoscale—encompassing nanowires, nanoflakes and core–shell architectures—has emerged as a route to optimise the electrode–electrolyte interface, improving ion diffusion kinetics, electrical conductivity and surface area. Recent advances have demonstrated that dopants (such as fluorine or zinc) and composite formation with carbonaceous scaffolds or layered silicates can stabilise high-capacity phases, bolster charge-transfer properties and mitigate volumetric strain during repeated charge–discharge cycles. These developments herald significant implications for nickel-metal hydride batteries, high-power supercapacitors and hybrid energy-storage systems, aligning material design with global demands for sustainable and scalable electrochemical devices.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have employed a phase transformation approach to synthesise three-dimensional networks of β-Ni(OH)2 nanowires anchored onto reduced graphene oxide. By inducing a controlled conversion from precursor phases, uniform nanowire arrays (20–30 nm in diameter) form a porous conductive framework. This composite achieves a discharge capacity exceeding 340 mAh g⁻¹ at moderate rates, retains over 79 % of its capacity at high currents, and exhibits negligible degradation over 100 cycles. The three-dimensional architecture enhances electronic pathways and electrolyte access, thereby uniting high capacity with robust rate performance in nickel-metal hydride battery cathodes.

Electrochemical Properties of Nickel Hydroxide Electrode Materials publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrochemical properties of nickel hydroxide electrode materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

α-Ni(OH)2: Layered phase of nickel hydroxide containing intercalated anions and water, offering high capacity but limited stability.

β-Ni(OH)2: Stable, anhydrous hexagonal phase of nickel hydroxide with lower specific capacity and enhanced cycle life.

Specific capacitance: Charge storage ability per unit mass or area of electrode material, expressed in farads per gram (F g⁻¹) or per square centimetre (F cm⁻²).

Cycle stability: Retention of electrochemical performance over repeated charge–discharge cycles.

Redox reaction: Electrochemical process involving oxidation and reduction of nickel species between Ni(II) and Ni(III).

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO): Conductive carbon scaffold derived from graphene oxide, promoting electron transport in composites.

References

1. 3D β-Ni(OH)2 nanowires/RGO composite prepared by phase transformation method for superior electrochemical performance. Scientific Reports (2019).
2. α/β-Ni(OH) 2 phase control by F-ion incorporation to optimise hybrid supercapacitor performance. Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2023).
3. A Ten-Minute Synthesis of α-Ni(OH)2 Nanoflakes Assisted by Microwave on Flexible Stainless-Steel for Energy Storage Devices. Nanomaterials (2022).
4. Design of Ni(OH)2/M-MMT Nanocomposite With Higher Charge Transport as a High Capacity Supercapacitor. Frontiers in Chemistry (2022).