Ni-MH battery is a new type of green battery developed in the 1990s. It entered the stage of practical application in 1988 and started mass production in Japan in 1990. It has the characteristics of high energy, long life, no pollution, etc., so it has become one of the high-tech products developed by countries all over the world.

The birth of nickel-metal hydride batteries should be attributed to the discovery of hydrogen storage alloys. As early as the end of the 1960s, people discovered a new type of functional material hydrogen storage alloy. The hydrogen storage alloy can absorb a large amount of hydrogen under certain temperature and pressure conditions, so it is vividly called “hydrogen absorbing sponge”. . Some of the hydrogen storage alloys can be repeatedly charged and discharged in a strong alkaline electrolyte solution and exist stably for a long time, thus providing us with a new type of negative electrode material, and on this basis invented the nickel-hydrogen battery. The main source of oxygen storage alloys is rare earths, and China’s rare earth resources account for more than 70% of the world’s total reserves. The development of nickel-hydrogen batteries has a unique advantage. Therefore, the research and development of China’s nickel-metal hydride batteries has received strong support from China’s “863” program and has been listed as a “top priority” project.

At the initial stage of project implementation, China’s nickel-hydrogen battery industry was still blank. According to China’s national conditions, China’s scientific research institutions and the business community have worked hand in hand to concentrate their advantages, jointly tackling key problems, and relying on their own strength to complete the development of a complete set of production processes and corresponding technical equipment for the pilot production demonstration line of nickel-hydrogen batteries. And in Guangdong, Liaoning, Tianjin and other places have established a pilot test base, industrialization demonstration base and a number of production bases of related materials. It laid the foundation for the industrialization of China’s nickel-hydrogen battery, and made China’s nickel-hydrogen battery production quickly catch up with the world level.

With the support of the “863” project, scientific researchers have overcome key technologies such as hydrogen storage alloy preparation and achieved a large number of innovative results, including the “impact mill production process under the protection of inert gas” developed by Zhongliao Sanpu Battery Co., Ltd. It has reached the international advanced level, and the hydrogen storage alloy powder produced has reached the international level of similar products. During the implementation of the nickel-hydrogen battery industrialization project, a total of 15 invention and utility model patents have been obtained, and more than 50 nickel-hydrogen battery standards and testing methods have been formulated. It has made contributions to promote the upgrading of China’s battery products and the development and utilization of rare earth resources.

Through the implementation of this project, the equipment level of China’s nickel-metal hydride batteries has been greatly improved, from manual operation in the past to continuous and automated mass production, significantly improving the uniformity and comprehensiveness of the battery, and satisfying the need for mobile The need for batteries in communications, portable computers, power tools, and electric vehicles. At the same time, through the implementation of the project, the cooperation between China’s nickel-hydrogen batteries and related companies such as materials, equipment, testing instruments, downstream products has been promoted, and the overall production capacity, technical level and competitiveness of the industry have been significantly improved. The development of the industry and the entry of products into the international market paved the way. At present, China has successfully developed 9 series and 32 specifications of nickel-metal hydride battery products, forming a production scale with an annual output of 3000t hydrogen storage alloy materials and 300 million Ah nickel-metal hydride batteries.