Electrochemical properties of cobalt-free La0.80Mg0.20Ni2.85Al0.11M0.53 (M=Ni, Si, Cr, Cu, Fe) alloys

In order to investigate the effect of different B-site additions on phase structure and electrochemical properties of cobalt-free La-Mg-Ni based alloys, La0.80Mg0.20Ni2.85Al0.11M0.53 (M=Ni, Si, Cr, Cu, Fe) hydrogen storage alloys were prepared and studied systematically. X-ray powder diffraction showed that the alloys consisted mainly of LaNi3 phase and LaNi5 phase except that Cr addition caused a minor Cr phase. Electrochemical testing indicated that alloys with additional Ni, Cr, Cu or Fe were activated within only 1–2 cycles, while that with Si addition needed 4 cycles. Adding Si, Cu and Fe increased cycling stability of La-Mg-Ni based alloys. However, maximum discharge capacity decreased from 362 mAh/g to 215 mAh/g in the order of Ni>Fe>Cu>Cr>Si. In addition, electrochemical kinetics of alloy electrodes was also researched by measuring high rate discharge ability (HRD), hydrogen diffusion coefficient (D) and limiting current density (IL).