Effect of rare earth on lattice size and equilibrium hydrogen pressure for AB 5-type MmNi 3.55Co 0.75Al 0.30Mn 0.40

Abstract

We investigated the effect of rare earth in Mm (misch metal) to crystal structure and hydrogenation properties especially lattice size and equilibrium hydrogen pressure in MmNi 3.55Co 0.75Al 0.30Mn 0.40 using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and pressure–composition ( P–C) isotherms measurements. We successfully prepared the alloys, where Mm was composed of M x La 0.81− x Nd 0.14Pr 0.05 (M x = Ce 0.47, Y 0.40, Gd 0.25, Tm 0.20, Lu 0.16). The substitution amount for each alloy was adjusted to appear stoichiometric single phase and to keep the same lattice volume considering atomic radius of each rare earth element. Among these alloys, however, the Ce containing ones studied showed different characteristics in terms of anisotropy of lattice parameters and equilibrium hydrogen pressure to others. All alloys studied showed the same reversible hydrogen content. Significant difference of the enthalpy and entropy of hydride formation have not been observed.