Study of calcium zincate synthesized by solid-phase synthesis method without strong alkali

Calcium zincate as an active material in Zn/Ni secondary battery has been successfully synthesized by solid-phase synthesis method without strong alkali. The chemical composition of Ca(OH)2·2Zn(OH)2·2H2O was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction pattern and weight loss in thermogravimetric analysis. Well defined monoclinic crystals of calcium zincate synthesized at 348 K was exhibited by scanning electron microscope. The results of cyclic voltammetry of powder microelectrode and experimental Zn/Ni battery charge-discharge test showed that the material of Ca(OH)2·2Zn(OH)2·2H2O had excellent electrochemical performances: a good cycleability, a high discharging platform of 1.686 V and a practical specific capacity of 195.8 mAh g−1. Nevertheless, this method of preparing calcium zincate is simple and more suitable for mass production.