Electrochemical performance of TiVNi-Quasicrystal and AB3-Type hydrogen storage alloy composite materials

The Ti1.4V0.6Ni ribbon alloy and AB3-type (La0.65Nd0.12Mg0.23Ni2.9Al0.1) alloy ingot are prepared by melt-spinning technique and induction levitation melting technique, respectively. The Ti1.4V0.6Ni + 20 wt.% AB3 mixture powders are synthesized by ball-milling the above prepared alloy ingots, and their structures and the electrochemical hydrogen storage properties are investigated. It is found that the icosahedral quasicrystal, Ti2Ni, BCC structural solid solution and AB3-type phases are all presented in the composite material. The maximum electrochemical discharge capacity of the composite electrode is 294.7 mAh/g at the discharge current density of 30 mA/g and 303 K. In addition, the electrode made of Ti1.4V0.6Ni and AB3 composite holds better high-rate discharge ability than that of Ti1.4V0.6Ni.

Research highlights
► Ti1.4V0.6Ni + AB3 alloy is composed of the I-phase, Ti2Ni, BCC and AB3-type phases.
► The maximum electrochemical discharge capacity reaches 294.7 mAh/g.
► The electrode holds better high-rate discharge ability than that of Ti1.4V0.6Ni.
► AB3-alloy additive play synergistic effect in electrochemical reaction kinetics.