The anode material Zn4SO4 (OH)6 · 5H2O for nickle/zinc batteries was synthesized by hydrothermal method and was identified by XRD techniques. TG/DAT measurements reveal that the products lose lattice water at 145 ℃ and decompose to 3ZnO · ZnSO4 at 274 ℃. Cyclic voltammetry and recharging/discharging results show thatCV curves have good symmetry, the ratio of oxidation area to reduction area for each curve is about 1, and the peak potential EPa and EPc have little change with the scanning rate. At 50th circle, more than 65 % of theoretical capacity is obtained while at the same condition, zinc oxide electrode only remains 35% of theoretical capacity.