Structure and Electrochemical Properties of Rapidly Quenched Mm0.3Ml0.7Ni3.55Co0.75Mn0.4Al0.3 Hydrogen Storage Alloy

Abstract

The as-cast Mm0.3Ml0.7Ni3.55Co0.75Mn0.4Al0.3 alloy has been treated using rapid-quenching technique at different quenching speeds to improve the electrochemical hydrogen storage properties of the alloys. The morphologic and microstructural characterizations of alloys were studied using x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. It is observed that the quenched alloy is composed of two main phases, LaNi5 and LaNi3, and one minor phase of La2Ni3. The microstructures of the alloys vary with the quenching speeds, as well as contain microcrystalline, nanocrystalline, and amorphous structures. The electrochemical hydrogen storage properties were measured using a battery test system. The results indicate that the discharge capacity of the alloy increases initially and then decreases with the rising quenching speeds. The quenched alloy at a speed of 15 m/s exhibits the maximum discharge capacity (388 mAh/g), which is much higher than that of the AB5-type rare earth-based hydrogen storage alloy reported in previous studies. However, the stability of the electrochemical cycle of the quenched alloy exhibits inverse trends compared with the discharge capacity. The best electrochemical cyclic stability of the quenched alloy can be obtained at a speed of 25 m/s.