The performance and failure mode of Ni/MH batteries made from a series of Mn-modified A(2)B(7) super-lattice and a commercially available AB(5) metal hydride alloys were studied and reported. Cells with the Mn-free A(2)B(7) alloy generally show improved low-temperature, higher peak power, and similar charge-retention behavior over those with a conventional AB(5) alloy. As Mn-additive amount increased, cell voltage and high-rate capacity improved, low temperature, charge retention, and cycle life first improved, but then deteriorated, and peak power and high temperature voltage stand deteriorated. Analysis of battery performance test results show the use of a superlattice alloy containing 2.3% Mn as the best overall alloy composition. Failure analysis of the highly cycled AB(5) alloy containing cells indicate a balanced degradation in negative, positive, separator, and a moderate loss of electrolyte. Same analysis on cells containing the various superlattice alloys suffered from a high degree of pulverization and oxidation of its negative electrode (with the 9.3% Mn content experiencing the worst amount of pulverization/oxidation) and a high degree of electrolyte loss. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.