Improved hydrogenation-dehydrogenation characteristics of nanostructured melt-spun Mg-10Ni-2Mm alloy processed by rapid solidification

The as-cast Mg-10Ni-2Mm (mole fraction, %) alloy was prepared by a simple and low-cost two-step method of pre-alloying and vacuum induction melting. The nanocrystalline alloy was obtained by the melt-spun process with the surface velocity of copper wheel of 10.5 m/s. The hydrogen storage properties were examined by PCT measurement. The enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) of the alloy determined by van't Hoff plots indicate that the thermodynamic performance of the nanocrystalline alloy is improved by fast diffusion ability of hydrogen in the nanocrystalline microstructure embedding nano-particles of intermetallics compounds Mg2Ni and MmMg12. The reaction kinetics of the melt-spun alloy is greatly improved due to short diffusion path of hydrogen in the nanocrystalline microstructure, resulting in better overall hydrogen storage properties. The hydrogen storage capacity is 5.09% (mass fraction, hereinafter the same), and the amount of hydrogen desorption is 4.86%. The hydrogen desorption rate of 95.5% in the alloy is available.