Chemistry
The Chemistry of Nickel-Iron Batteries and Their Charge-Discharge Behavior
Quick fact
A nickel-iron battery can last for more than 20 years and withstand thousands of deep discharge cycles, thanks to the robust redox chemistry of nickel oxyhydroxide and iron oxide in a concentrated potassium hydroxide electrolyte.
Why this is interesting
You know rechargeable batteries, but what if a battery could survive rugged abuse, deep discharges, and even be partially recharged hundreds of times? The nickel-iron battery has done exactly that for over a century.