Structures and electrochemical performances of as-spun RE-Mg-Ni-Co-Al alloys applied to Ni-MH battery

Abstract

The La-Mg-Ni-Co-Al-based AB2-type La0.8-xCe0.2YxMgNi3.4Co0.4Al0.1 (x=0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) alloys were prepared by melt spinning. The effects of Y content on the structures and electrochemical hydrogen storage characters were thoroughly studied. The structures of the experimental samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It is shown that there are a main phase LaMgNi4 and a second phase LaNi5 in the experimental samples. The variation of Y content incurs obvious changes of the phase abundance without changing phase composition. Namely, with the increase of Y content, the LaMgNi4 phase increases and LaNi5 phase decreases. Furthermore, melt spinning and the replacement of Y for La also lead to the grains refinement of the alloy. The electrochemical tests display that the as-spun alloys possess excellent activation properties, and obtain the maximums of discharge capacity at the first cycling. The replacement of Y for La can visibly facilitate the discharge potential characteristics, however,diminish the discharge capacity. The electrochemical kinetics, involving in the high rate discharge ability (HRD), hydrogen diffusion coefficient (D), limiting current density (IL) and charge transfer rate, increases firstly and then decreases with the increase of Y content. The cyclic stability is greatly improved by melt spinning and the replacement of Y for La, which is derived from the improvement of the anti-corrosion, oxidation-resistance and the anti-pulverization abilities.