Research of heat treatment of low-Co AB_5 type hydrogen storage alloys for MH-Ni batteries

The effects of low-Co AB_5 type hydrogen storage alloys prepared by quenchingand annealing on the performances of MH-Ni batteries were investigated, and the characteristics ofthe low-Co AB_5 type hydrogen storage alloys were compared with those of the high-Co AB_5 typehydrogen storage alloy as well. The results showed that the faster the cooling of the low-Cohydrogen storage alloy is, the better homogeneity of the chemical composition for the alloy and thelonger cycle life of the battery are, but the electrochemical discharge capacity and high-ratedischarge ability are reduced. The high-rate discharge ability and charge retention of MH-Nibatteries for the conventional as-cast annealed low-Co hydrogen storage alloy were superior to thosefor the rapidly quenched low-Co hydrogen storage alloy and the high-Co hydrogen storage alloy, buta little inferior in the cycle life.

Effect of praseodymium substitution for lanthanum on structure and properties of La_(0.65-x)Pr_xNd_(0.12)Mg_(0.23)Ni_(3.4)Al_(0.1)(x=0.00–0.20) hydrogen storage alloys

In order to investigate the effect of substituting La with Pr on structural and hydrogen storage properties of La-Mg-Ni system （AB3.5-type） hydrogen storage alloys, a series of La0.65-xPrxNd0.12Mg0.23Ni3.4Al0.1（x=0, 0.10, 0.15, 0.2） hydrogen storage alloys were prepared. X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and energy dispersive spectrometer （EDS） analyses revealed that two alloys （x=0.0 and 0.10） were composed of （La,Mg）2（Ni,Al）7 phase, La（Ni,A1）5 phase and （La,Mg）Ni2 phase, while other alloys （x=0.15 and 0.20） consisted of （La,Mg）2（Ni,A1）7 phase, La（Ni,A1）5 phase, （La,Mg）Ni2 phase and （La,Mg）（Ni,A1）3 phase. All alloys showed, however, only one pressure plateau in P-C isotherms. The Pr/La ratio in alloy composition influenced hydrogen storage capacity and kinetics properties. Electrochemical studies showed that the discharge capacity decreased from 360 mAh/g （x=-0.00） to 335 mAh/g （x=-0.20） as x increased. But the high-rate dischargeability （HRD） of alloy electrodes increased from 26% （x=0.00） to 56% （x=-0.20） at a discharge current density of Id=1800 mA/g. Anode polarization measurements were done to further understand the electrochemical kinetics properties after Pr substitution.

Effect of Heat-Treatment Process on Properties of Rare Earth Mg-Based System Hydrogen Storage Alloys with AB_3-Type

The effect of heat-treatment process on the properties of Mm0.8Mg0.2(NiCoAlMn)3.5 hydrogen storage alloy was discussed . The electrochemical properties such as cycling stability, activation property, and the plateau voltage of the alloy which was heat-treated in various temperatures and times had different changes during the cycle process, the optimum heat-treatment conditions of this alloy were determined by this work.

Structure and electrochemical properties of La-Mg-Ni system hydrogen storage alloys with different Co contents

The structure and electrochemical properties of the La0.7Mg0.3Ni3.4-xMn0.1Cox （x=01.05） hydrogen storage alloys were investigated. The crystal structure and the lattice parameters of the alloys were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry and Rietveld method. Electrochemical properties of the alloys including p—c—t curves, discharge capacity, discharge capacity retention were studied. The results show that （La, Mg）Ni3 and LaNi5 are the main phases of all the alloys. The plateau pressure for hydrogen absorption/desorption decreases and the hydrogen storage capacity firstly increases and subsequently decreases with increasing Co content. The values of the maximum discharge capacity of the alloy electrodes remain in range of 395.3403.1mA·h/g in spite of the change of Co content. The cycling stability of the alloy electrodes is greatly improved with increasing Co content, which is attributed to the suppression of the cell volume expansion during hydriding, leading the pulverization of the alloy particles lowered and the oxidation/corrosion of the active elements reduced.

Effects of alloying side B on Ti-based AB_2 hydrogen storage alloys

Ti-based AB2-type hydrogen storage alloys are a group of promising materials, which will probably replace the prevalent rare earth-based AB5-type alloys and be adopted as the main cathode materials of nickel-metal hydride （Ni-MH） batteries in the near future. Alloying in side B is a major way to improve the performance of Ti-based AB2-type alloys. Based on recent studies, the effects of alloying elements in side B upon the performance of Ti-based AB2-type hydrogen storage alloys are systematically reviewed here. These performances are divided into two categories, namely PCI characteristics, including hydrogen storage capacity （HSC）, plateau pressure （PP）, pressure hysteresis （PH） and pressure plateau sloping （PPS）, and electrochemical properties, including discharge capacity （DC）, activation property （AP）, cycling stability （CS） and high-rate dischargeability （HRD）. Furthermore, the existing problems in these investigations and some suggestions for future research are proposed.

Effects of iron phthalocyanine on performance of MH/Ni battery

Oxygen evolution causes a high inner pressure during charge and overcharge for MH/Ni battery, and an inappropriate eliminating way of the oxygen in the battery results in accumulation of heat. This is the main obstacle to develop and apply high capability and high power battery. How to reduce the ratio of the chemical catalysis rate to the electric catalysis rate in MH/Ni battery is considered as an urgent question. Iron phthalocyanine(FePc) was chosen as an electrochemical catalyst. The batteries were prepared by adding iron phthalocyanine with different dosages. The inner pressure, the capacity attenuation, the discharge voltage and capacity at high current of these three batteries were compared. The battery with 1 mg FePc in the negative electrode exhibits a good performance.

Improved Electrochemical Kinetic Performances of La-Mg-Ni-based Hydrogen Storage Alloy Modified by Ni-Polypyrrole Complex Surface Treatment

In order to improve the electrochemical kinetic performances of La-Mg-Ni-based alloy,complex surface modification of Ni with excellent catalytic activity and conducting polymer polypyrrole(PPy)was performed via electroless plating method.FESEM images revealed that the complex Ni-PPy treatment resulted in more micropores at the alloy surface,with Ni particles and cotton fiber-shape PPy microspheres attached.Both the larger surface area induced by the micropore and the higher catalytic activity and conductivity on account of the dispersed Ni particles/PPy microspheres promoted the electrode reaction,thereby increasing the discharge capacity of the modified alloy electrode.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS)and linear polarization results showed that the Ni-PPy treatment decreased the charge-transfer resistance and increased the exchange current density greatly,far more than the single-component Ni or PPy treatment.Consequently,a notable improvement in high rate dischargeability(HRD)was observed,and at a high discharge current density of 1800 mA/g,the HRD of the modified electrode increased by 10.4%compared with that of the bare electrode.

Low-Temperature Hydrogen Storage Alloy and Its Application in Ni-MH Battery

Rare earth compositions, La, Ce and Pr in Mm(NiCoMnAl)(5) hydrogen storage alloy, were arranged by uniform design method. The discharge performances and kinetics parameters including capacity, exchange current density, symmetry factor and hydrogen diffusion coefficient of the alloy at -40degreesC, were tested in standard tri-electrode cell. And linear regression method was used to analyze the effect of rare earth compositions on the performances of hydrogen storage alloys. The results show that the capacities of the alloys are positively correlative to the square of Ce content at -40degreesC and under both 0.4 and 0.2C rate. The kinetics parameters and hydrogen diffusion coefficient indicate that the low-temperature performances of the alloys are mainly controlled by hydrogen diffusion process, and the surface electrochemical reaction affects the low-temperature performances to a certain extent. The low-temperature discharge capacities of the battery were also tested. The results show excellent low-temperature performances. The battery delivers 69.6% of its room-temperature capacity at -40degreesC and 0.2C rate, 77.7% at -40degreesC and 0.4C rate, 59.1% at -45degreesC and 0.2C rate.

Microstructure and electrochemical properties of low-temperature hydrogen storage alloy used in Ni/MH batteries

AB5 hydrogen storage alloys La0.54Ce0.28Pr0.18Ni4-xCo0.6Mn0.35Alx(x=0.1,0.2,0.3) were prepared by arc melting method under an Ar atmosphere. The results show that the contents of Ni and Al have obvious influences on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of the alloys. Both the lattice parameters and the cell volumes decrease with decreasing x value. Moreover,the discharge capacity at different temperatures,the high rate discharge property,and the cycling life of the alloy electrode are also in close relationship with the x value. When x value increases from 0.1 to 0.3,the discharge capacities with a discharge current density of 60 mA/g slightly decreases at 25 ℃,but evidently deteriorates at -40 ℃,the high-rate property gravely decreases,and the cycle life of the alloy electrode is improved in some extent. Therefore,it is meaningful to control Al content for the AB5 hydrogen storage alloys used in Ni/MH batteries.

Study on Degradation and Recovery of AB_5-Type Hydrogen Storage Alloy Used in Ni-MH Batteries

The influences of deeply overdischarge on the negative electrode alloy of Ni/MH battery were studied. After overdischarge, La(OH) 3 and Al(OH) 3 are found to form in the negative electrode through XRD analysis. The hydrogen storage alloy powder from spent Ni/MH batteries was recovered by chemical and melting method according to degradation mechanism. The structure of recovered alloy was measured by XRD. The experimental results demonstrate that the alloy structure is CaCu 5 type. The constant current charge/discharge test was carried out to the original alloy and the recovered alloy. It is found that their discharge capacities are almost the same, but the discharge potential of the recovered alloy is higher than that of the original alloy. The results of cyclic lifetime test demonstrate that the capacity degradation of the recovered alloy is slower than that of the original one.

Phase structure and electrochemical properties of non-stoichiometric La_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)(Ni_(3.65)Cu_(0.75)Mn_(0.35)Al_(0.15)(Fe_(0.43)B_(0.57))_(0.10))_x hydrogen storage alloys

Phase structure and electrochemical characteristics of Co-free La0.7Ce0.3（Ni3.65Cu0.75Mn0.35Al0.15（Fe0.43B0.57）0.10）x （0.90≤x≤1.10） alloys were investigated. When x was 0.90, the alloy was composed of LaNi5, La3Ni13B2 and Ce2Ni7 phases. The Ce2Ni7 phase disappeared, and the abundant of La3Ni13B2 phase decreased when x increased to 0.95. When x was 1.00 or higher the alloys consisted of LaNi5 phase. The lattice parameter a and the cell volume V of the LaNi5 phase decreased, and the c/a ratio of the LaNi5 phase increased with x value increasing. Maximum discharge capacity of the alloy electrodes first increased and then decreased with x value increasing from 0.90 to 1.10, and the highest value was obtained when x was 1.00. High-rate dischargeability at the discharge current density of 1200 mA/g increased from 50.7% （x= 0.90） to 64.1% （x=1.10）. Both the charge-transfer reaction at the electrode/electrolyte interface and the hydrogen diffusion in the alloy were responsible for the high-rate dischargeability. Cycling capacity retention rate at 100^th cycle （$10o） gradually increased from 77.3% （x= 0.90） to 84.6% （x= 1.10）, which resulted from the increase in Ni content and the c/a ratio of the LaNi5 phase with x value increasing.

Microstructure and electrochemical characteristics of La_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)Ni_(3.75)Mn_(0.35)Al_(0.15)Cu_(0.75-x)(V_(0.81)Fe_(0.19))_x hydrogen storage alloys

Microstructure and electrochemical characteristics of La0.7Ce0.3Ni3.75Mn0.35Al0.15Cu0.75-x（V0.81Fe0.19）x hydrogen storage alloys were investigated. XRD indicated that La0.7Ce0.3Ni3.75Mn0.35Al0.15Cu0.75-x（V0.81Fe0.19）x alloys consisted of a single phase with CaCus-type structure, and the lattice parameter a and cell volume V increased with increasing x value. The maximum discharge capacity first increased from 319.0 （x=0） to 324.0 mAh/g （x=0.05）, and then decreased to 307.0 mAh/g （x=0.20）. The high-rate dischargeability at the discharge current density of 1200 mA/g first increased from 52.1% （x=0） to 59.1% （x=0.15）, and then decreased to 55.4% （x=0.20）. The hydrogen diffusion in the bulky alloy was responsible for the high-rate dischargeability. Cycling stability first increased with increasing x from 0 to 0.10 and then de- creased when x increased to 0.20, which was resulted fi＇om the synthesized effect of the improvement of the pulverization resistance and the decrease of corrosion resistance.

Effects of Mm(NiCoAlMn)_5 hydrogen storage alloy coated with Ni-Co-P alloy by electroless plating on electrochemical properties of hydride electrodes

The effect of chemical plating with Ni Co P alloy on the properties of MH electrodes is investigated. The results show that the efficiency of storage alloy and the activation of MH electrode have been improved by introducing 1.74% cobalt in the Ni Co P alloy coating. The initial discharge capacity is 208 mAh/g. The maximum discharge capacity gets to 298.5 mAh/g. At the same time the cycle life of MH electrodes is improved. The discharge capacity of MH electrodes coated with Ni Co P is 88% of the maximum discharge capacity after 300 cycles. Whereas the discharge capacity of bare alloy electrodes retains 62% of the maximum capacity after 300 cycles. An increment of discharge capacity is mainly due to the superposition of the oxidation current of Co as well as improved efficiency of microcurrent collection. The effect of Ni Co P alloy coating by electroless plating on the kinetic properties of hydride electrode has been systematically investigated by electrochemical techniques. The results indicate that the kinetic properties of MH electrodes, including exchange current density, limiting current density, have been improved markedly. This improvement of kinetic properties leads to the decrease of the overpotential of anodic and cathodic polarization.

Effects of iron phthalocyanine on the inner pressure of MH/Ni battery

Effects of iron phthalocyanine (FePc) on the inner pressure of MH/Ni batteries dur-ing charging were examined. Experimental results show that the battery with appropriate quantity of FePc displays a much lower inner pressure under charging and overcharging than the battery without FePc, especially the battery with 1 mg FePc exhibits the slowest increasing speed of inner pressure and the best charging efficiency and overchargeability.

Low-Co rare-earth-based hydrogen storage alloy

On the basis of typical high Co MI(Lanthanum rich mischmetal) based hydrogen storage alloy, a series oflow Co or Co free alloys have been prepared by means of partial or full replacement of Co by a combination of other elements. The microstructures, p c T (pressure concentration temperature) characteristics and electrochemical propertiesunder different charge discharge conditions of the alloys have been investigated. Compared with the high Co alloy, thelow Co or Co free alloys have the lower hydrogen equilibrium pressure and discharge capacity, but have the nearly samehigh rate and high temperature discharge capability, and better charge discharge cycling stability. The reason is revealedby SEM, XPS and XRD results. \[

Effect of B and Fe substitution on structure of AB_3-type Co-free hydrogen storage alloy

A series of hydrogen storage Co-free AB3-type alloys were directly synthesized with vacuum mid-frequency melting method,within which Ni of La0.7Mg0.3Ni3 alloy was substituted by Fe,B and(FeB) alloy,respectively.Alloys were characterized by XRD,EDS and SEM to investigate the effects of B and Fe substitution for Ni on material structure.The content of LaMg2Ni9 phase within La0.7Mg0.3Ni3 alloy reaches 37.9% and that of La0.7Mg0.3Ni2.9(FeB)0.1 alloys reduces to 23.58%.Among all samples,ground particles with different shapes correspond to different phases.The major substitution occurs in LaMg2Ni9 phase.Electrochemical tests indicate that substituted alloys have different electrochemical performance,which is affected by phase structures of alloy.The discharge capacity of La0.7Mg0.3Ni3 alloy reaches 337.3 mA·h/g,but La0.7Mg0.3Ni2.9(FeB)0.1 alloy gets better high rate discharge(HRD) performance at the discharge rate of 500 mA/g with a high HRD value of 73.19%.

MH/Ni电池用稀土系储氢合金的失效及回收研究

探讨了深度过放电对MH/Ni电池负极储氢合金的影响。发现在过放电后 ,负极储氢合金的XRD结构图中 ,除了储氢合金的主相外 ,还出现了十分明显的Al(OH) 3,La(OH) 3的衍射峰。结合各种情况下储氢合金失效的原因 ,利用化学处理及再熔炼的方法对失效MH/Ni电池的负极粉进行了回收实验 ,并对比了回收合金与原合金的结构及电化学性能。XRD测试结果表明回收合金与原合金的结构相同 ,均为CaCu5型。恒电流充放电实验发现 ,回收合金与原合金粉相比 ,放电容量接近 ,放电电位高。循环寿命测试结果表明 。

MH-Ni电池失效的电化学分析

通过对失效MH Ni电池的解剖 ,用电化学方法研究分析了贮氢合金表面处理对充放电循环寿命终止时MH Ni电池负极的充放电性能和极化性能的影响。负极充放电曲线表明未处理贮氢合金电极的表面已严重氧化 ,其极化电阻大约是处理贮氢合金电极的 3～ 4倍。而经表面处理的贮氢合金电极仍具有良好的充放电性能和小的极化电阻。

贮氢合金表面处理改善Ni/MH电池1C充放电性能

研究了贮氨合金两种表面化学处理方法对MH电极活化性能及Ni／MH电池IC充放电性能的影响：第一种处理方法是贮氢合金在6th。l·L－’KOH溶液中80T处理sh，第二种处理方法是在含有0．04mol·L－‘KBH4的6mol·L’‘KOH溶液中80t处理sh．通过MH电极的放电容量、充放电过程中电极极化和电化学阻抗谱测试评价了上述化学处理对电极活化性能的影响．电子探针表面分析表明化学处理后贮氢合金表面由于铝元素的优先溶解形成一层具有较高电催化活性的富镍表面层，它是改善电极活化性能的主要原因·以处理的贮氨合金为负极材料的Ni／MH电池具有较高IC充放电循环寿命和1．ZV以上放电容量．

MH-Ni电池中稀土贮氢合金微结构的XRD研究

提出了分离微晶和微应力两种引起X衍射线条宽化效应的最小二乘方法。用该方法分析研究了不同工艺制备的贮氢合金的微结构,对比研究了MH-Ni电池中的贮氢合金在活化前后和循环寿命实验前后微结构的变化。结果表明活化对负极材料微结构产生重大影响;循环寿命实验后贮氢合金微结构的变化与循环条件密切相关。