Preparation of an alkaline iron electrode material using sulfur acids

A battery electrode plate comprising a supporting plaque loaded with iron electrode material consisting essentially of

• 1. iron particles consisting essentially of substantially pure iron oxides selected from the group consisting of FeO, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3.H.sub.2 O and mixtures thereof and
• 2. the chemical reaction product of an iron particle component consisting essentially of substantially pure iron oxides selected from the group consisting of FeO, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3.H.sub.2 O and mixtures thereof and at least one sulfur substituted organic acid selected from the group consisting of thiolic, dithiolic, and mercaptocarboxylic acids, said mixture containing about 0.01 to 2 weight percent total sulfur.

A battery electrode plate comprising a supporting 75 to 95 percent porous plaque of metallurgically diffusion bonded metal fibers selected from the group consisting of nickel, nickel coated iron and nickel coated steel fibers loaded with an activated iron electrode material consisting essentially of (1) iron particles consisting essentially of substantially pure iron oxides, having an average particle size range of from about 0.2 to 74 microns, selected from the group consisting of FeO, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3.H.sub.2 O and mixtures thereof and (2) the chemical reaction product of an iron particle component consisting essentially of substantially pure iron oxides, having an average particle size range of from about 0.2 to 74 microns, selected from the group consisting of FeO, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3.H.sub.2 O and mixtures thereof and at least one sulfur substituted organic acid selected from the group consisting of thioacetic acid, thio-isopropionic acid, thio-formic acid, thiobenzoic acid, dithiodiglycolic acid, dithiodibenzoic acid, mercapto-succinic acid, thioglycolic acid, mercapto-propionic acid, and mercapto-butyric acid, wherein the mixture contains from about 0.01 to 2 weight percent sulfur, providing a superactivated iron electrode material.

A method of making a porous battery plate comprising the steps of:

• a. loading an iron particle component consisting essentially of substantially pure iron oxides having an average particle size range of from about 0.2 to 74 microns selected from the group consisting of iron oxide, iron oxide hydrate and mixtures thereof into a porous plaque, and
• b. contacting the iron particle component in the plaque with at least one sulfur substituted organic acid selected from the group consisting of thiolic, dithiolic, and mercapto-carboxylic acids, by soaking the loaded plaque in a solution of the acid, to chemically react iron particles, to provide the iron particle component with about 0.01 to 2 weight percent total sulfur.