In an attempt to enhance the electrochemical performance of the iron-based electrode, an iron-corecopper-shell nano-structured material was synthesized and incorporated with ferrous sulphide, andgraphite additives. An electrically conductive nickel mesh as a current collector, coupled with a lowcost hot-pressing technique, was employed to formulate the electrodes. The ferrous and graphiteintegrated iron-core copper-shell nano-structured negative electrode was investigated for applications inFe-based alkaline batteries energy storage. FeCu0.25/15%FeS/5%C composite electrode delivered aspecific discharge capacity of 385 mAh g-1an approximately 71% coulombic efficiency. The nominalspecific capacity of the electrode exhibited negligible capacity degradation after 40 cycles. Ex-situ Xray Diffraction characterisations and scanning electrode microscopy images of both the fresh and thedischarged electrode surfaces show that particle arrangement was still intact after 40 cycles, withnegligible particle agglomeration compared to the pure iron electrode surface which was marked withmassive agglomeration. Energy filtered transmission electrode microscopy images confirmed the ironcore copper-shell particle arrangement. The FeCu0.25/15%FeS/5%C electrode exhibited stableperformances marked by high specific capacity coupled with negligible capacity decay and highefficiency. The ferrous/graphite integrated iron-core copper-shell electrode is consequently a conducivenegative electrode candidate in alkaline iron-air and nickel-iron battery systems..
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