Ti-V-Ni with graphene-mixing icosahedral quasicrystalline composites: Preparation, structure and its application in Ni-MH rechargeable batteries

The Ti-V-Niquasicrystalline was prepared by arc-melting and subsequent melt-spinning technique, and the Ti1.4V0.6Ni + x graphene (x = 3, 5, 7, 10 and 13, wt.%) composites were obtained by mechanical ball-milling method. The structures and electrochemical hydrogen storage properties of the composites were investigated. The results showed that, the structures of the composites contained icosahedral quasicrystal, Ti2Ni-type, NiTi and graphene phases. The electrochemical hydrogen storage properties of the composites were improved with graphene addition. The cycling stabilities after 50 charging/discharging cycles of Ti1.4V0.6Ni + x graphene composites were improved obviously, especially the Ti1.4V0.6Ni + 10 graphene composite showed the best cycling stability of 70.3%, increased by 6.5%, compared with the Ti1.4V0.6Ni electrode. The high-rate discharge abilities of the composites were also increased appreciably. The improvement in the hydrogen storage characteristics should own to the proper graphene addition and that could cause copacetic electrocatalytic activity and anti-corrosion ability.