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, and graphite 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 in Fe-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 nominal specific 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 the discharged electrode surfaces show that particle arrangement was still intact after 40 cycles, with negligible particle agglomeration compared to the pure iron electrode surface which was marked with massive agglomeration. Energy filtered transmission electrode microscopy images confirmed the ironcore copper-shell particle arrangement. The FeCu0.25/15%FeS/5%C electrode exhibited stable performances marked by high specific capacity coupled with negligible capacity decay and high efficiency. The ferrous/graphite integrated iron-core copper-shell electrode is consequently a conducive negative electrode candidate in alkaline iron-air and nickel-iron battery systems.
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