Nanosized cathode material Ni(OH)(2) for alkaline batteries was prepared by converting the precursor of NiC2O4.2H2O in KOH water solution which contained Tween-80, and the precursor was obtained via the reaction between Ni(NO3)(2).6H2O and H2C2O4.2H2O in ethanol solvent. The products were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared absorption spectroscopy (IR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the as-prepared Ni(OH)2 sample by this method is beta(II)-type phase and its shape is spherical with the particle size from 5 to 35 nm. The electrochemical studies revealed that the 10% addition of nanosized Ni(OH)(2) to common microsized spherical Ni(OH)(2) can improve the electrochemical performance of the Ni(OH)(2) electrode. There exists approximately a 10% improvement in the utilization of the active material of the Ni(OH)(2) electrode with 10% nannosized Ni(OH)(2) addition in comparison with microsized spherical Ni(OH)(2) electrode. Nanosized Ni(OH)(2) may be a promising cathodic active material for alkaline rechargeable batteries. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.