Evaluation the effect of sintering time used in the production of silver electrodes on the life of zinc - silver batteries

In this study, effect of sintering time 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. Then, four silver electrodes were sintered for 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes at temperature 500°C. Electrical discharge method were used in the 1.4% KOH electrolyte to evaluate the effects of sintering time 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 sintering time of 10 minute with discharge time of eight minutes and forty-seven seconds, is the most optimized sintering time for increase double of the life of zinc - silver oxide batteries. SEM images were showed that with increasing sintering time, the amount and size of apparent pores increased in the Ag electrodes. Also, point analysis results has implies on reduction of electrodes oxygen, with the increasing of sintering time.