Nickel-Cadmium Battery: Construction, Features and Working Principle

06 March 2021

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A nickel-cadmium battery is a system that generates DC voltage by a chemical reaction between the components. In a nickel-cadmium battery, the redox material serves as the nucleus, with a nickel sheet and a separator surrounding it. The voltage of the nickel-cadmium cell is about 1.2 V. As three or four cells are connected in sequence, the output voltage ranges from 3.6 to 4.8 V.

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A DC voltage trigger is a nickel-cadmium battery. It is displacing lead-acid batteries and gaining attention in recent years due to its properties and advantages. It is lightweight and portable, making it easy to transport from one location to another. Toys, calculators, small DC motors, and other devices often use this battery. It works on the same principle as lead accumulator batteries. The chemical reaction causes the DC voltage when metal is rolled with cadmium and separator layers and left in redox. Batteries have long been common, and in order to improve their effectiveness, more and more chemical elements are being used. As a result, the structure is compact.

In a nickel-cadmium battery, the redox material serves as the nucleus, with a nickel sheet and a separator surrounding it. The voltage of the nickel-cadmium cell is about 1.2 V. As three or four cells are connected in sequence, the output voltage ranges from 3.6 to 4.8 V.

I.  Construction of Nickel-Cadmium Battery Voltage

The operation of a nickel-cadmium battery is similar to that of other batteries. Nickel and cadmium are used to increase performance. Since a battery is a DC voltage source, it must have two potential points: positive and negative, commonly known as anode and cathode. A coating of nickel oxide NiO2 is held around the redox in a nickel-cadmium battery.

This nickel oxide coating serves as a cathode. A coating of KaOH is held above the nickel oxide layer to serve as a separator. It should be remembered that this separator layer must be wet or damp. Its aim is to provide the chemical reaction with the required OH negative ions. Cadmium is mounted above the separator plate. In a nickel-cadmium battery, the cadmium coating serves as the anode. The schematic of a nickel-cadmium battery is seen below.

The nickel layer acts as a positive electrode collector, while the cadmium layer acts as a negative electrode collector, as seen in the diagram. KOH or NaOH is used as a separator layer between the two layers. Its role is to supply OH ions. A safety valve, sealing pad, insulation ring, insulation gasket, and an exterior case round out the package.

The insulator ring's job is to keep the two layers apart by providing insulation. The insulator gasket is where the insulation ring is held close at hand. This ring is attached to the separator plate. The outer case serves to shield the inner layers from external causes such as battery failure and mishandling. It should be remembered that working with the battery is often unsafe due to chemical reactions that occur inside the battery.

The battery case is never opened so all of the layers are visible and could hurt the person using it. When the unit is not in operation, it is often advised that the battery be removed.

The nickel-cadmium battery is constructed similarly to lead-acid batteries. It is made up of three basic layers. The nickel layer is first, followed by the separator layer, and then the cadmium layer. The nickel layer functions as a positive electrode collector, while the cadmium layer functions as a negative electrode collector.

KOH or NaOH is used as a separator layer between the two layers. Its role is to supply OH ions. A safety valve, sealing pad, insulation ring, insulation gasket, and an exterior case round out the package. The insulator ring's job is to keep the two layers apart by providing insulation. The insulator gasket is where the insulation ring is held close at hand. This ring is attached to the separator plate.

The outer case serves to shield the inner layers from external causes such as battery failure and mishandling. It should be remembered that working with the battery is often unsafe due to chemical reactions that occur inside the battery. The layers, in combination with the separator layer, create the required chemical reaction and the potential difference.

Nickel-Cadmium Battery Equations

The chemical equations that represent the reaction are as follows:

2NiOOH + 2H2O + 2e" => 2 Ni (0H)2 + 2 OH

Cd + 2 OH' => 2 Cd (OH)2 + 2e-

2NiOOH + Cd + 2H2O <-> 2 Ni (OH)2 + Cd (OH)2

The reaction between the cathode layer nickel and the separator is described by the first equation. It produces Nickel oxide OH ions as an output. As previously stated, the separator layer is used to provide the OH ions needed for the chemical reaction. For the initial reaction, the separator layer is soaked in water to provide H20. As a result, one of the byproducts is H2O.

The cadmium layer is also mixed with OH ions derived from the separator layer on the anode side. Cadmium oxide and electrons are generated as a result of this process. It's worth noting that the electrons in both equations balance out. OH ions are also canceled. The third equation, in which nickel is mixed with cadmium and water, is the reminder equation. Nickel oxide and cadmium oxide are the end products.

II.  Features of Nickel-Cadmium Battery Voltage

Nickel-Cadmium Battery Temperature Range

During charging, the temperature range for nickel batteries is 0 to 45 degrees Celsius, and during discharging, the temperature range is -20 to 65 degrees Celsius. The battery can not work outside of this temperature range, and there is a risk of explosion.

Nickel-Cadmium Battery Toxicity

The human body is extremely poisonous to nickel-cadmium batteries. Cadmium is a heavy metal that poses a number of health threats to humans. Cadmium has also been seen to have a biochemical effect on the body. Cadmium is present in the human body at a concentration of around 1 microgram per liter. It affects the digestive system directly. Nickel, like lead, is toxic to the human respiratory system.

Nickel-Cadmium Battery Voltage

Each voltage for a Nickel-cadmium battery will be about 1.2 V in general. To obtain the necessary voltage, a number of cells are connected in series or parallel. Aside from the voltage, the real energy per kilogram is about 50-60 Wh. This is higher than nickel-iron batteries but lower than nickel-zinc and nickel-metal hydride batteries.

The specific power per kilogram is 200 W. This is higher than nickel-iron batteries but lower than nickel-zinc and nickel-metal hydride batteries. It ranges from 170-1000 for nickel-metal batteries. It's about 100 for nickel-iron batteries. The energy efficiency is anywhere between 70 and 75 percent. This is higher than nickel-iron batteries but lower than nickel-zinc and nickel-metal hydride batteries. It's about 70-80 percent for nickel-metal batteries. It's about 60-70 percent for nickel-iron batteries.

Nickel Cadmium Battery Types

Only the size and usable voltage are used to classify nickel-cadmium batteries. It may be AAA, AA, A, Cs, C, D, or F in height, depending on the size. The output voltage parameters for both of these sizes are different. Others are in a rectangular box-shaped outer case, and most are in a cylindrical pipe-shaped outer case.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Nickel Cadmium Battery

Advantages:

• Delivers a lot of currents.

• Overcharging is tolerated.

• It can handle up to 500 charging cycles.

Disadvantages:

• Cadmium is a toxic metal that is harmful to the environment.

• Temperature resistance is lower than that of other batteries.

III.  Working Principle of Nickel-Cadmium Battery Voltage

The chemical reaction that occurs between the layers is what makes the nickel-cadmium battery work. The battery, which is a DC voltage source, is made up of two ports: anode and cathode. The cadmium coating is kept on the redox first when producing the battery. The cathode terminal is the cadmium layer. Cadmium is a heavy metal of excellent electrical conductivity. Separator layers are held above the cadmium layer.

The separator layer's job is to provide the required OH ions for the chemical reaction. The reaction between the cathode layer nickel and the separator requires OH ions. It produces Nickel oxide OH ions as an output. As previously stated, the separator layer is used to provide the OH ions needed for the chemical reaction. For the initial reaction, the separator layer is soaked in water to provide H20.

As a result, one of the byproducts is H2O. The cadmium layer is also mixed with OH ions derived from the separator layer on the anode side. Cadmium oxide and electrons are generated as a result of this process. It's worth noting that the electrons in both equations balance out. OH ions are also canceled. The third equation, in which nickel is mixed with cadmium and water, is the reminder equation. Nickel oxide and cadmium oxide are the end products. A surge of electrons follows the chemical reaction, causing a potential difference between the two terminals.