Electrochemical hydrogen absorbing properties of graphite/AB5 alloy composite electrode

Graphite is an inexpensive carbon material, but its hydrogen absorbing performance has attracted little attention. In this paper, in order to lower the cost of nickel metal-hydride (Ni-MH) battery, graphite is used as a hydrogen absorbing material in its negative electrode. The results of charge–discharge tests show that the graphite electrode has poor electrochemical hydrogen absorbing performance. The capacity of the graphite/AB5 alloy (90 wt%) composite electrode is close to AB5 alloy (298 mAh/g), but it has higher charge–discharge polarization and difficulty in activation. When graphite is modified with metal nickel powder by a simple ball milling process, the capacity of the composite electrode reaches to 315 mAh/g and its activation is accelerated. The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests show that hydrogen diffusion in the modified composite electrode is more rapid than in AB5 alloy, thereby resulting in lower charge–discharge polarization and better discharge performance at large currents.

► Graphite electrode has poor electrochemical hydrogen absorbing performance.
► Graphite is modified with metal nickel powder by a simple ball milling process.
► Modified graphite/AB5 alloy composite electrode has good electrochemical properties.
► Hydrogen diffusion in the composite electrode is more rapid than in AB5 alloy.