Controlled crystallite size electrode

A method for producing a controlled crystallite size nickel hydroxide sintered electrode, having Ni(OH).sub.2 particles in which all crystallites thereof fall within a 60-160 .ANG. size range, comprising the steps of:

• providing a conductive metal sintered plaque substrate;
• and
• putting said substrate through at least one impregnation-cleaning series, said impregnation-cleaning series comprising the substeps of:
• a) impregnating said substrate with nickel hydroxide by putting said substrate through one or more impregnation cycles to form an impregnated substrate;
• and
• b) electrochemically cleaning said impregnated substrate at least once, said substep of electrochemically cleaning said impregnated substrate comprising the sub-substeps of:
• i) immersing said impregnated substrate into a solution of at least one caustic base, and
• ii) applying a charge to said impregnated substrate, said charge being equivalent to at least about 120% of single-electron capacity, but less than that producing crystallites less than about 60 .ANG. in size.