Study of hydrogen storage and electrochemical properties of AB2-type Ti0.15Zr0.85La0.03Ni1.2Mn0.7V0.12Fe0.12 alloy

Abstract

A C15 AB2 Laves-type Ti0.15Zr0.85La0.03Ni1.2Mn0.7V0.12Fe0.12 alloy was prepared by arc melting and annealing. Phase-structural composition, microstructure, hydrogen absorption-desorption properties, thermodynamic and electrochemical performances were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, hydrogen absorption-desorption measurements and electrochemical characterization and were related to the use of the alloys as metal hydride battery anodes.The alloy contains a C15 FCC intermetallic compound as the main phase and a LaNi secondary phase as the minor constituent (∼1 wt%).During the electrochemical tests, the anode electrodes quickly, after just a few activation cycles, reached a maximum discharge capacity. This was related to the catalytic effect of the La-rich secondary phase which acted as a catalyst of hydrogen absorption-desorption.Annealing resulted in increase of the maximum discharge capacity from 345 mAh/g for the as cast alloy to 370 mAh/g. Furthermore, the annealed alloy showed a better high rate dischargeability and a higher cyclic stability. After 100 cycles with 100% DOD at discharge current density of 1C, the discharge capacity of the annealed alloy was very high, at a level of 90% of the initial capacity.The rates of hydrogen diffusion have been characterized by Potentiostatic Intermittent Titration Technique and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. With increasing an extent of transformation into the hydride, the H diffusion rate in the bulk of the alloy particles decreased. The maximum value of DH measured by PITT for the annealed alloy was observed for the nearly fully discharged electrode, (SOC 2%).