Effect of Cu content on structure, hydrogen storage properties and electrode performance of LaNi4.1-x Co0.6Mn0.3Cu x alloys

Abstract

The effect of Cu content on structure, hydrogen storage, and electrochemical properties of LaNi4.1-x Co0.6Mn0.3Cu x alloys has been investigated. For sample, A, B, C, and D are used to represent alloys (x = 0, 0.15, 0.3, and 0.45), respectively. The results indicate that the four alloys are all single-phase alloy with LaNi5 phase of CaCu5 hexagonal structure, the hydrogen storage capacities of the alloy are about 1.49 wt% (A), 1.48 wt% (B), 1.43 wt% (C), and 1.25 wt% (D) at 303 K. With the increase of Cu content (x) from A to D, hydrogen desorption plateau pressure and pressure hysteresis decrease. Alloy electrode A shows better activation property and higher capacity (334.44 mAh/g). The addition of Cu improves the cyclic stability of the alloy electrodes when x = 0 ~ 0.45. However, their self-discharge properties and high-rate dischargeability (HRD) decrease with the increase of x. Further, electrochemical kinetics and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis show that the reaction of alloy electrode is controlled by charge transfer step, and the adding of Cu benefits the electrode properties in alkaline solution.