Process of forming a nickel electrode

A process of forming a nickel electrode on a porous electrode substrate selected from the group consisting of sintered nickel powder, nickel fiber, nickel foam, graphite fiber, composite carbon material, metal coated graphite fibers, and metal coated polymer fibers comprising the steps of;

• immersing said substrate in a first bath of a zinc-salt solution;
• applying a current to said substrate to deposit one of zinc-oxide, zinc-hydroxide or mixtures thereof onto said substrate;
• immersing said substrate in an active material bath of a nickel-salt solution, said bath provided with at least one counter-electrode;
• and
• applying a current to said substrate thereby depositing nickel-hydroxide active material onto said substrate.

A process of forming a nickel electrode on an electrode substrate, comprising the steps of:

• immersing said substrate in an additive bath of about 0.04 to 0.10 molar solution of one of zinc-nitrite or zinc sulfate;
• applying a first current density to said substrate during said additive immersing step;
• polarizing said substrate with a second current density of about 0.005 to 0.02 amperes per square centimeter;
• buffering said additive bath with a molar solution of sodium nitrite;
• electrochemically depositing one of a zinc-oxide, zinc-hydroxide or mixture thereof onto said substrate;
• drying said substrate at about 60° C.;
• and thereafter
• electrochemically depositing one of a nickel oxide or nickel hydroxide active material onto said substrate.