Evaluation of the Ability to Life Increase of Zinc - Silver Batteries By Optimizing Press Pressure Used in the Production of Silver Electrodes

In this study, effect of press pressure used in the production of silver electrodes on the life of zinc - silver oxide batteries was investigated. For this purpose, initially four Ag electrodes (positive plate) with composition of 95 wt% silver oxide, 4.9 wt% carbon powder and 0.1 wt% resin prepared by powder metallurgy method and the press pressures of 40, 60, 80 and 100 bar was applied. Then, four silver electrodes were sintered for 13 minutes at temperature 500°C. Electrical discharge method were used in the 1.4% KOH electrolysis to evaluate the effects of press pressure used in the production of silver electrodes on the life of zinc - silver oxide batteries. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the microstructures of electrodes and point analysis was accomplished by EDX method. Electrical discharge tests results showed that press pressure of 60 bar is the most optimized pressure for increase of the life of zinc - silver oxide batteries. SEM images were showed that with increasing press pressure, the amount and size of apparent pores reduced in the Ag electrodes. Also, point analysis results has implies on reduction of electrodes oxygen, with the increasing of press pressure.