Structure and electrochemical hydrogen storage characteristics of the as-cast and annealed La0.8-xSmxMg0.2Ni3.15Co0.2Al0.1Si0.05 （x=0-0.4） alloys

In order to ameliorate the electrochemical cycle stability of the RE-Mg-Ni based A2B7-type electrode alloys, the Mg content in the alloy was reduced and La in the alloy was partially substituted by Sm. The La0.8-xSmxMg0.2Ni3.15Co0.2Al0.1Si0.05 (x=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) elec-trode alloys were fabricated by casting and annealing. The microstructures of the as-cast and annealed alloys were characterized by XRD and SEM. The electrochemical hydrogen storage characteristics of the as-cast and annealed alloys were measured. The results revealed that all of the experimental alloys mainly consisted of two phases: (La,Mg)2Ni7 phase with the hexagonal Ce2Ni7-type structure and LaNi5 phase with the hexagonal CaCu5-type structure. As Sm content grew from 0 to 0.4, the discharge capacity and the high rate discharge ability (HRD) first in-creased and then decreased for the as-cast and annealed alloys, whereas the capacity retaining rate (S100) after 100 cycles increased continuously.     

Influence of rapid quenching on cyclic stability of La-Mg-Ni system （AB3-type） electrode alloys

Aiming at the improvement of the cyclic stability of La-Mg-Ni system （PuNi3-type） hydrogen storage alloy, Ni in the alloy was partly substituted by Fe. The electrode alloys of La0.7Mg0.3Co0.45Ni255-xFex （x=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4） were prepared by casting and rapid quenching. The influence of the quenching on cyclic stability as well as structure of the alloys was investigated in detail. The results of electrochemical measurement indicated that rapid quenching significantly improved cyclic stability. When the quenching rate rose from 0 （As-cast was defined as a quenching rate of 0 m/s） to 30 m/s, the cyclic life of Fe-free alloy （x=-0） increased from 81 to 105 cycles, and for alloy containing Fe（x=0.4）, it grew from 106 to 166 cycles at a current density of 600 mA/g. The results obtained by XRD, TEM and SEM revealed that the as-cast and quenched alloys had multiphase structures, including two major phases （La, Mg）Ni3 and LaNi5 as well as an imptLrity phase LaNi2. Rapid quenching helped the formation of an amorphous-like structure in Fe containing alloys.     

Effect of cobalt content on electrochemical performance of La-Mg-Ni system （Ce2Ni7-type） electrode alloys

In order to improve the cyclic stability of La-Mg-Ni system （Ce2Ni7-type） alloy electrode, small amount of Co was added in La0.75Mg0.25Ni3.5 alloy. The effect of Co on electrochemical performance and microstructure of the alloys were investigated in detail. XRD results showed that the alloys had multiphase structure composed of （La, Mg）2Ni7, LaNi5 and small amount of LaNi2 phases. The discharge capacity of the alloys first increased and then decreased with increasing Co content. At a discharge current density of 900 mA/g, the HRD of the alloy electrodes increased from 81.3% （x=0） to 89.2 % （x=0.2）, and then reduced to 87.8 % （x=0.6）. After 60 charge/discharge cycles, the capacity retention rate of the alloys enhanced from 52.67% to 61.32%, and the capacity decay rate of the alloys decreased from 2.60 to 2.05 mAh/g per cycle with increasing Co content. The obtained results by XPS and XRD showed that the fundamental reasons for the capacity decay of the La-Mg-Ni system （Ce2Ni7-type） alloy electrodes were corrosion and oxidation as well as passivation of Mg and Lain alkaline solution.     

Effects of Fe-substitution for cobalt on electrochemical properties of La-Mg-Ni-based alloys

In order to improve electrochemical properties,especially cycling stability,Co was partially substituted by Fe in A2B7-type La-Mg-Ni-based alloys.The La0.74Mg0.26Ni2.55Co0.65-xFex(x=0,0.10,0.20,0.30) alloys were prepared by inductive melting,and their phase structure and electrochemical properties were studied.The XRD and SEM results showed that the alloys consisted mainly of(La,Mg)2Ni7 phase,(La,Mg)5Ni19 phase and LaNi5 phase,except for absence of LaNi5 phase in the non-substituted alloy.The(La,Mg)5Ni19 ph...     

Effect of annealing treatment on hydrogen storage properties of La-Ti-Mg-Ni-based alloy

The present study dealt with investigations on the effects of annealing on the hydrogen storage properties of La 1.6 Ti 0.4 MgNi 9 alloys.The experimental alloys were prepared by magnetic levitation melting followed by annealing treatment.For La 1.6 Ti 0.4 MgNi 9 alloys,LaNi 5,LaNi 3 and LaMg 2 Ni 9 were the main phases,Ti 2 Ni phase appeared at 900℃.Annealing not only enhanced the maximum and effective hydrogen storage capacity,improved the hydrogen absorption/desorption kinetics,but also increased the discharge capacity.The cyclic stability had been improved markedly by annealing,e.g.,when the discharge capacity reduced to 60% of maximum discharge capacity,the charge/discharge cycles increased from 66(as-cast) to 89(annealed at 800℃) and 127 times(annealed at 900℃).La 1.6 Ti 0.4 MgNi 9 alloy annealed at 900℃ exhibited better electrochemical properties compared to the other two alloy electrodes.     

Effects of annealing on microstructures and electrochemical properties of La0.8Mg0.2Ni2.4Mn0.10Co0.55Al0.10 alloy

The La0.8Mg0.2Ni2.4Mn0.10Co0.55Al0.10 alloy was prepared by induction melting. The structural and morphological characterizations were performed by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical measurements were performed using LAND and CHI 660b electrochemical workstation. The main phases of the alloy were LaNi5 and (La,Mg)Ni3. After annealing, the maximum discharge capacity, cycle stability and high rate dischargeability (HRD) were improved obviously. The maximum discharge capacity reached 373.80 mAh/g (T=1173 K), the C100/Cmax(%) was 72.63% (T=1173 K), and the value of HRD reached 51.8% at a discharge current density of 1150 mA/g (T=1173 K). The cyclic voltammetry (CV) and potentiodynamic polarization were also studied.     

Co替代Ni对A2B7型贮氢电极合金相结构及电化学性能的影响

采用感应熔炼方法制备了La0.75Mg0.25Ni3.5-xCox(x=0,0.25,0.75,1)四元贮氢合金,系统地研究了合金B侧Co对Ni部分替代对合金相结构及电化学性能的影响.X衍射(XRD)分析表明,La0.75Mg0.25Ni3.5-xCox由(La,Mg)2Ni-7相(包括Gd2 Co7型高温相和Ce2 Ni7型低温相)组成.此外,随着Co元素的加入,该类合金中出现CaCu5型LaNi5相.电化学测试表明,随Co含量的增加,合金电极活化次数增大,合金电极的最大放电容量增大,合金的最大放电容量由x =0.25时的376.53 mAh/g增加到x=1时的401.62mAh/g,氢扩散系数增大,循环稳定性变差,合金的高倍率放电性能降低,Co含量对合金电极高倍率放电性能HRD值的影响与对合金电极交换电流密度的影响趋势一致,这表明电极合金表面的电化学反应对合金的动力学性能影响更大.     

A study on hydrogen storage and electrochemical properties of La_（0.55）Pr_（0.05）Nd_（0.15）Mg_（0.25）Ni_（3.5） （Co_（0.5）Al_（0.5））_x （x=0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5） alloys

The La0.55Pr0.05Nd0.15Mg0.25Ni3.5(Co0.5Al0.5)x(x=0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5) alloys were prepared by magnetic levitation melting under an Ar atmosphere, and the effects of Co and Al on the hydrogen storage and electrochemical properties were systematically investigated by pressure composition isotherms, cyclic voltammetry, Tafel polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy testing. The results showed that the alloy phases were mainly consisted of (La,Pr)(Ni,Co)5, LaMg2Ni9, (La,Nd)2Ni7 and LaNi3 phases, and the cell volumes of (La,Pr)(Ni,Co)5, LaMg2Ni9, (La,Nd)2Ni7 and LaNi3 phases expanded with Co and Al element added. The hydrogen storage capacity initially increased from 1.36 (x=0) to 1.47 wt.% (x=0.3) and then decreased to 1.22 wt.% (x=0.5). The discharge capacity retention and cycle stability of the alloy electrodes were improved with the increase of Co and Al contents. The La0.55Pr0.05Nd0.15Mg0.25Ni3.5(Co0.5Al0.5)0.3 alloy electrode possessed better electrochemical kinetic characteristic.     

AB5型与AB3.5型贮氢合金的电化学性能对比研究

为了对比研究AB5型与AB3.5型贮氢合金的电化学及动力学特性,以AB5型MlNi3.68Mn0.32Co0.73Al0.27和AB3.5型Ml0.80Mg0.20 （NiMnAlCu）3.6、La0.6 Mg0.4 Ni3.5为研究对象.采用XRD分析了合金的相结构,利用电化学方法测试合金的电化学及动力学特性.结果发现,MlNi3.68 Mn0.32Co0.73Al0.27合金由单相LaNi5相组成,而Ml0.80Mg0.20（NiMnAlCu）3.6、La0.6Mg0.4Ni3.5均有LaNi5相和La2Ni7相组成.AB3.5型合金的放电容量、荷电保持率以及动力学特性高于AB5型合金.     

Effect of Ni/（La＋Mg） Ratio on Structure and Electrochemical Performance of La-Mg-Ni Alloy System

As the alloy with the most suitable Ni/(La+ Mg) ratio has higher capacity and good cycle stability,theeffects of Ni/(La+Mg) ratios on the electrochemical performances of the La0.80 Mg0.20 Nix (x= 3.5 to 5.0) alloys have been investigated to find the most suitable Ni/(La+ Mg) ratio.The results of XRD and SEM observations show that the phase composition of the alloys varies with different Ni/(La+Mg) ratios.When Ni/(La+Mg) is notmore than 4.25,all the alloys contain LaNi5 and (La,Mg)2Ni7 phases,in addition,the LaMg and (La,Mg)Ni3 phases exist in the x=3.5 and 3.75 alloys,respectively.The LaMg2Ni9 phase exists in the x=4.25 alloy.There are the LaNi5 and LaMg2 Ni9 phases in the x= 4.5,4.75,and 5.0 alloys.The phase abundance and cell volume change with different Ni content.When the Ni/(La+Mg) ratio is not more than 4.25,the alloys possess excellent activation capability,however,the activation capabilities of the alloys decrease with a further increase in the Ni/(La+Mg)ratio.With increasing the Ni/(La+ Mg) ratio,the maximum discharge capacities,the medium voltages,and the cycle stabilities of the alloys first increase and then decrease.When the Ni/(La+Mg) ratio is 3.75,the corresponding alloyhas the maximum discharge capacity among all the alloys.However,the cycle stability of the Ni/(La+ Mg)= 4.0 alloy is better than that of the others.     

Co含量对La0.55Pr0.05Nd0.15Mg0.25Ni3.5-xCoxAl0.25（x=0～0.4）储氢合金电极性能的影响

采用电磁感应悬浮炉制备La0.55Pr0.05Nd0.15Mg0.25Ni3.5-xCoxAl0.25(x=0,0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4)系列合金,研究Co含量对合金的相结构、吸放氢性能和电化学性能的影响。研究结果表明,该系列合金主要由LaNi5、Nd2Ni7相组成。当Co含量大于0.2时,合金中出现La2Ni7相。压强-吸氢量-温度(Pressure-Content-Temprature)测试显示在303 K温度下,合金具有良好的吸氢性能,当x=0.4时合金的最大吸氢量为1.29(质量分数,%)。电化学测试表明:随x值变化,合金电极的最大放电容量分别为340.0(x=0.0)、346.6(x=0.1)、370.0(x=0.2)、320.0(x=0.3)和346.6(mA.h)/g(x=0.4);随Co含量增加,合金电极容量保持率不断增加,高倍率放电性能先增加后减小,循环伏安曲线、氢在合金体中的扩散系数D共同反映了合金电极的动力学特性。     

Hydriding and dehydriding characteristics of nanocrystalline and amorphous Mg20-xLaxNi10（X=0-6） alloys prepared by melt-spinning

In order to improve the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation performances of the Mg2Ni-type alloys, Mg was partially substituted by La in the alloy, and melt spinning technology was used for the preparation of the Mg20-xLaxNi10 (x=0, 2, 4, 6) hydrogen storage alloys. The structures of the alloys were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). It was found that no amorphous phase formed in the as-spun La-free alloy, but the as-spun alloys containing La held a major amorphous phase. When La content x≤2, the major phase in the as-cast alloys was Mg2Ni phase, but with further increase of La content, the major phase of the as-cast alloys changed into LaNi5+LaMg3 phase. Thermal stability of the as-spun alloys was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), showing that spinning rate was a negligible factor on the crystallization temperature of the amor-phous phase. The hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics of the as-cast and as-spun alloys were measured using an automatically con-trolled Sieverts apparatus, confirming that the hydrogen absorption and desorption capacities and kinetics of the as-cast alloys clearly in-creased with rising La content. For La content x=2, the as-spun alloy displayed optimal hydrogen desorption kinetics at 200 ℃.     

制备工艺对La_(0.80)Mg_(0.20)Ni_(3.75)合金电极性能的影响

采用中频感应真空熔炼(IM)和放电等离子烧结(SPS)工艺制备La0.80Mg0.20Ni3.75合金。XRD分析表明,这两种工艺制备的合金均含有LaNi5和(La,Mg)2Ni7主相,而中频感应真空熔炼法制备的合金(IMLa合金)还含有(La,Mg)Ni3相,放电等离子烧结法制备的合金(SPSLa合金)还含有Ni及La2Mg17相。电化学性能测试结果表明,作为镍氢电池负极材料,IMLa合金的放电容量、损耗角及极限电流密度均较大;而SPSLa合金的循环性能较好,这归因于SPSLa合金晶粒细小,组织均匀,Ni和La2Mg17相弥散分布,可减弱其电极脱落程度。     

Phase Structure and Electrochemical Characteristics of Ml（Ni3.55Co0.75Mn0.40Al0.30）5x （x=0.88, 0.92, 0.96, 1.00） Hydrogen Storage Alloys

The phase structure and electrochemical characteristics of Ml （（Ni3.55Co0.75Mn0.40Al0.30）sx （ x = 0.88, 0.92, 0.96, 1.00） hydrogen storage alloys were studied. The effect of the stoichiometric ratio on the phase structure and electrochemical characteristics was analyzed. The results of XRD reveal that all the alloys consist mainly of LaNi5 phase with the hexagonal CaCu5 structure. But a few of the diffraction peaks of La2Ni7 phase on XRD pattern are observed when x ≤ 0.92, and with decreasing x, the intensity of La2Ni7 diffraction peaks increases and the values of lattice parameters a and cell volume increase, c and c/a of LaNi5 phase decrease gradually. When x≥0.96, La2Ni7 phase disappears and the alloys become single CaCu5-type. The electrochemical tests show that the maximum discharge capacity, high rate dischargeability and low temperature dischargeability are improved to different degrees by adjusting the stoichiometric ratio.     

快淬纳米晶/非晶Mg2-xLaxNi (x=0～0.6)合金的贮氢动力学

为了改善Mg2Ni型合金气态及电化学贮氢动力学性能,用La部分替代合金中的Mg,用快淬技术制备了Mg2-xLaxNi(x=0,0.2,0.4,0.6)合金,用XRD,SEM,HRTEM分析了铸态及快淬态合金的微观结构;用自动控制的Sieverts设备测试了合金的气态贮氢动力学性能,用程控电池测试仪测试了合金的电化学贮氢动力学.结果发现,快淬无La合金具有典型的纳米晶结构,而快淬含La合金显示了以非晶相为主的结构,表明La替代Mg提高Mg2Ni型合金的非晶形成能力.La替代Mg明显地改变Mg2Ni型合金的相组成.当La替代量x=0.4时,合金的主相改变为(La,Mg) Ni3+ LaMg3.合金的气态及电化学吸放氢动力学对La含量及快淬工艺敏感,La替代使合金的吸氢动力学降低,但适量的La替代可以明显改善合金的放氢动力学及高倍率放电能力.适当的快淬处理可以提高合金的气态及电化学贮氢动力学,但获得最佳贮氢动力学的快淬工艺与合金的成分密切相关.     

Phase structure and electrochemical properties of laser sintered La2MgNi9 hydrogen storage electrode alloys

Phase structure and electrochemical properties of laser sintered La2MgNi9 alloys were studied. The sintered alloys contained a main phase, LaNi5, and a ternary La-Mg-Ni phase, with a PuNi3 structure and a small amount of LaMgNi4. The ternary La-Mg-Ni phase with a PuNi3 structure had the composition of La1.8Mg1.2Ni9 and La2MgNi9, for alloys laser sintered at 1000 and 1400 W, respectively. Owing to further reactions between LaNi5 and LaMgNi4, the amount of the PuNi3 phase increased for alloys sintered at 1400 W. Both alloys had good activation property (three charge/discharge cycles). The discharge capacities of the sintered alloys were 321.8 and 344.8 mAh/g, respectively. Compared with the alloy laser sintered at 1000 W, the poor cyclic stability of the alloy sintered at 1400 W was mainly attributed to the lower corrosion resistance of the La2MgNi9 phase.     

Effects of Strip Casting and Annealing on Electrochemical Properties of LPCNi3.55Co0.75Mn0.4Al0.3 Hydrogen Storage Alloys

The effect of thickness (1～10 mm) of the ingots on the electrochemical properties of as-cast and annealed strip cast LPCNi3.55Co0.75Mn0.4Al0.3 hydrogen storage alloys was investigated. It is found that the 0.2 C discharge capacity of as-cast LPCNi3.55Co0.75Mn0.4Al0.3 alloy increases with the increase of the thickness of the ingots. As-cast alloy with the thickness of 10 nun shows better activation property, higher 1C discharge capacity and better cyclic stability than others.It is mainly contributed to its larger unit cell volume and less internal stress. Annealed LPCNi3.55Co0.75Mn0.4Al0.3 alloywith the thickness of 3 mm shows much better comprehensive electrochemical properties than as-cast one; The cyclic stability of the alloy with the thickness of 6 mm and the activation properties of the alloys with the thickness of 3～6 mm are improved after annealing. It is mainly owing to the great release of intemal stress and the decrease fo the segregation of Mn in the alloys.     

La0.65RE0.10Mg0.25Ni3.5Si0.15(RE=La,Ce,Pr,Nd,Sm)储氢合金的电化学性能及EIS分析

通过感应熔炼制备La0.65RE0.10Mg0.25Ni3.55i0.15(RE =La,Ce,Pr,Nd,Sm)合金.采用X射线衍射方法分析了合金的相结构,研究了其电化学性能,并采用电化学阻抗谱分析了合金电极的放氢动力学特性.研究结果表明,合金是以LaNi5、LaNi3为主相的多相结构,同时合金中少量的Si元素与Mg和Ni元素形成了少量的Mg2 Si相和Ni2Si相.Ce,Pr,Nd,Sm部分替代La以后,合金的放电容量下降,Ce的替代使合金容量大幅度降低.对于本系列合金,La被其他稀土元素部分替代后,合金经过100次循环后的容量保持率略有下降,但除了Pr元素以外,变化值均较小.合金电极的电化学阻抗谱分析表明,中低频区的容抗弧半径依次为Ce ＞La＞ Nd ＞Sm ＞Pr,这表明采用Nd、Sm、Pr替代La后合金电极在碱液中放电过程电荷传递电阻Rct减小,即合金表面活性增加,但Ce替代却导致Ret急剧增大,这可能与Ce在碱液中易形成氧化物降低了合金的表面活性有关.     

Influence of elemental composition on crystal structure and hydrogen storage performance for Mg-containing alloys

The influence of elemental composition on the crystal structure, hydrogen storage and electrochemical properties for Mg-containing alloys was investigated. As La/Mg ratio decreased, the slight change of Ni content was detected. XRD results indicated that these alloys were composed of LaNi 5 and Mg-containing phases. The lattice parameters of Mg-containing phases decreased. Meanwhile, the mass fraction of Mg-containing phases varied with the change of La/Mg and Ni. The hydrogen storage capacity reached ～1.6 wt.% for La/Mg≧ 3 :1 and decreased to ～0.71 wt.% for La/Mg=1. Two hydrogen absorption processes were observed because of the existence of the multiphases for La/Mg≧ 3 :1. With decreasing La/Mg ratio, the equilibrium pressurerose due to the shrinkage of the lattice parameter. Meanwhile, one hydrogen absorption process was obviously present. The discharge capacity of these as-cast alloys was higher, but the cyclic stability was poor for La/Mg≧ 3 :1 due to the partial amorphisation. It was better for La/Mg≤2 although the discharge capacity was lower. The polarization resistance increased, contrarily the exchange current density decreased with decreasing Mg content.     

Study on structure and electrochemical properties of the （LaGdMg）Ni3.35-xCoxAl0.15（x=0-2.0） hydrogen storage alloys

Hydrogen storage alloys(LaGdMg)Ni3.35-xCoxAl0.15(x=0,0.1,0.3,0.5,1.0,1.5,2.0) were prepared by induction melting followed by annealing treatment in argon atmosphere.The effects of partly replacing Ni by Co element in(LaGdMg)Ni3.35Al0.15 on the phase structure and electrochemical properties of(LaGdMg)Ni3.35-xCoxAl0.15 alloys were investigated.Structure analysis showed that the alloys consisted of Ce2Ni7-type(Gd2Co7-type),CaCu5-type,Pr5Co19-type,PuNi3-type phase structure.The addition of Co element obviously reduced the contents of CaCu5-type phase and increased the contents of Ce2Ni7-type phase.However,Pr5Co19-type and CaCu5-type phase obviously increased with the high content of Co.Rietveld analysis showed that the c-axis lattice parameters and cell volumes of the component phases increased with increasing Co content.The electrochemical measurements showed that as the Co content increased,the maximum discharge capacity and the cyclic stability of the annealed alloys both first increased then decreased.The(LaGdMg)Ni3.05Co0.3Al0.15 alloy electrode exhibited the maximum discharge capacity(392.92 mAh/g),and the(LaGdMg)Ni1.85Co1.0Al0.15 alloy electrode showed the best cyclic stability(S100=96.1%).