Microstructure, electrochemical performance and gas-phase hydrogen storage property of Zr<inf>0.9</inf>Ti<inf>0.1</inf>[(Ni,V,Mn)<inf>0.95</inf>Co<inf>0.05</inf>]<inf>α</inf>laves phase alloys

Abstract

A series of Zr0.9Ti0.1[(Ni,V,Mn)0.95Co0.05]αalloys were prepared by vacuum induction melting to investigate the relationship between the composition and the electrochemical performance of AB2alloys. It was shown that the electrochemical capacity is improved, but the cycle life is reduced, when increasing the content of Mn and decreasing that of Ni in the alloys, keeping the contents of the other elements constant. The electrochemical capacity is increased, but the high-rate capability deteriorated with the increasing level of the V and the decrease of Ni in the alloys. The effects are attributed to the electro-catalyzing effect of Ni, the dissolution of Mn into the alkaline solution and the change of hydrogen affinity resulting from the substitution of V for Ni. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.