In order to improve the properties of the nickel?zinc battery and study the effects of the additives on performance of zinc electrode, 3 levels and 4 factors (acetylene black, Bi2O3, PbO, Ca[Zn(OH)3]2·2H2O coated by La(OH)3 ) that affect the zinc electrode were tested with orthogonal design experiments. The charge?discharge experiments of zinc electrode made up of only zinc oxide were done in 20% KOH solution to investigate the function of the additive. In order to better understand the discharge capability attenuation of electrode, the ratios of zinc to calcium in the worst sample and the best sample of the orthogonal design test were analyzed. The samples were characterized by charge?discharge cycling, phase structure analysis, cyclic voltammetry and X-ray diffraction. Experimental evidences indicate that the optimum ratio of electrode additive is as follows: 0.02 g acetylene black, 0.5 g Bi2O3, 0.3 g PbO and 0.2 g Ca[Zn(OH)3]2·2H2O coated with La(OH)3 in 5 g sample.
