Effect of BaBiO3 and Ba0.6K0.4BiO3 additives on the rechargeability of manganese oxide cathodes in alkaline cells

The effect of the incorporation of small amounts (1–5 wt%) of semiconducting BaBiO₃ and metallic Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO₃ additives on the rechargeability of electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) cathodes in alkaline cells in the one-electron regime has been investigated. Both the BaBiO₃ and Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO₃ additives lead to better cyclability compared to the previously known binary oxide additive Bi₂O₃. X-ray diffraction patterns recorded before and after 30 cycles as well as cyclic voltammograms recorded after first and 30 cycles reveal that the better cyclability in the presence of BaBiO₃ and Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO₃ additives is due to the suppression of the formation of unwanted, electrochemically inactive birnessite and hausmannite phases and a shifting of the second-electron capacity of Mn to higher potentials.