Influence of material processing on crystallographic and electrochemical properties of cobalt-free LaNi_(4.95)Sn_(0.3) hydrogen storage alloy

The effects of the alloy preparation methods, including the conventional casting, annealing and melt-spinning, on the crystallographic and electrochemical properties of the Co-free LaNi4.95Sn0.3 alloy samples were investigated. The results reveal that the as-cast alloy consists of a main phase of CaCu5-type structure and a little second phase (Sn) with noticeable composition segregation and rather poor cycling stability (S200=40.1%). While the annealed and melt-spun alloys are of single CaCu5-type structure phase with a more homogeneous composition and lower cell volume expansion rate (?V/V) on hydriding, and a dramatically improved cyclic stability (S200=73.6%?76.2%), although their activation rate, initial capacity and high-rate dischargeability are lowered somewhat. It is found that the decrease in both the electrocatalytic activity and the hydrogen diffusion rate of the annealed and melt-spun alloys is the main cause for their relatively lower high-rate dischargeability, and the improved cycling stability is due to their lower volume expansion on hydriding and more uniform composition.

The effects of the alloy preparation methods, including the conventional casting, annealing and melt-spinning, on the crystallographic and electrochemical properties of the Co-free LaNi4.95Sn0.3 alloy samples were investigated. The results reveal that the as-cast alloy consists of a main phase of CaCu5-type structure and a little second phase （Sn） with noticeable composition segregation and rather poor cycling stability （S200=40.1%）. While the annealed and melt-spun alloys are of single CaCu5-type structure phase with a more homogeneous composition and lower cell volume expansion rate （AV/V） on hydriding, and a dramatically improved cyclic stability （S200=73.6% -76.2%）, although their activation rate, initial capacity and high-rate dischargeability are lowered somewhat. It is found that the decrease in both the electrocatalytic activity and the hydrogen diffusion rate of the annealed and melt-spun alloys is the main cause for their relatively lower high-rate dischargeability, and the improved cycling stability is due to their lower volume expansion on hydriding and more uniform composition.