Affiliation: | a Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. Tsukuba Research Laboratory, 48 Wadai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-42, Japan b Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co. Ltd., Okabe-machi, Osato-gun, Saitama 369-02, Japan c National Institute of Materials and Chemical Research, 1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan |
Abstract: | The crystal structure, hydrogen absorbing properties and electrode performance of Laves phase alloy systems, Sc---Zr---Ni---Mn and Sc---Ni---V systems, were studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, pressure-composition isotherm and electrochemical measurements. C14 and C15 Laves phases and minor ScNi-related phase were found in the Sc---Zr---Ni---Mn alloy system. The ScNi-related phase was composed of Sc, Zr and Ni elements. Two kinds of minor phase, BCC and ScNi-related phases, were identified in addition to the C15 phase in the Sc---Zr---Ni---V alloy system. The BCC contained mainly the element V. The ScNi-related phase contributed to an increase in the hydrogen capacity, but those in the V alloy system did not. The multiphase anode with a large amount of the ScNi-related phase showed a low durability against the KOH electrolyte. The substitution of Zr by Sc led to an improvement in the initial activation of the anode, but there was not a clear correlation between the presence of the multiphase in the anode and the rate capability. |