Electrochemical hydriding of Mg–Ni–Mm (Mm = mischmetal) alloys as an effective method for hydrogen storage

In this work, the electrochemical hydriding method was used for storing hydrogen in four binary Mg–Ni (Ni content from 15 to 34 wt.%) alloys and one ternary Mg–26Ni–12Mm alloy. Both the as-cast and powdered alloys were hydrided in a 6 M KOH solution at 80 °C for 120–480 min. The structures and phase compositions of the alloys, both before and after hydriding, were studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. Differential scanning calorimetry and mass spectrometry were used to study the dehydriding process. In the case of as-cast alloys, the best combination of hydriding parameters (maximum hydrogen concentration on surface; depth of hydrogen penetration) was achieved in the Mg–26Ni alloy. In the case of powdered alloys, the Mg–34Ni alloy absorbed the highest amount of hydrogen, nearly 4.5 wt.%. The only hydride formed during hydriding was the MgH2 hydride. The results of the mass spectrometry analysis reveal a significant thermodynamic destabilization of magnesium hydride due to Ni and Mm. The decomposition temperature of MgH2 was reduced by more than 200 °C. The results are discussed in relation to the electronic structure and atomic size of the alloying elements and the structural variations in the alloys.

► Maximum hydrogen concentration in the hydrided Mg–34Ni alloy mixed with carbonyl nickel is 4.5 wt.%.
► H-rich MgH2 phase predominates after electrochemical hydriding of powdered Mg–Ni–Mm alloys.
► MgH2 is destabilized by the fine structure and by alloying elements and begins its decomposition at 180 °C.