Nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery

Abstract

In a nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery comprising a positive electrode of nickel hydroxide and a negative electrode of hydrogen-absorption alloy, prolonged battery lite is achieved by limiting the charge and discharge operations to be performed in the range of 20-60% of the hydrogen-absorption capacity of the hydrogen-absorption alloy.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery comprising; 
 a positive electrode including nickel hydroxide;    a negative electrode including a hydrogen-absorption alloy; and    a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, wherein    charge and discharge operations are performed in the range of 20-60% of hydrogen-absorption capacity of the hydrogen-absorption alloy.    
     
     
         2 . The nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery according to  claim 1 , wherein an average particle diameter of the hydrogen-absorption alloy is in the range of 10-25 μm.  
     
     
         3 . The nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery according to  claim 1 ,.wherein a quantity of an alkaline electrolyte per negative electrode capacity is in the range of 1.5-3 g/Ah.  
     
     
         4 . The nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery according to  claim 1 , wherein a facing area, per negative electrode capacity, between opposing negative and positive electrodes is in the range of 45-65 cm 2 /Ah.