Crystal Structures and Electrochemical Properties of R1.5Ca1.5MgNi14(R=Nd, Gd and Er) Hydrogen Storage Alloys

Ca3MgNi14, Nd1.5Ca1.5MgNi14, Gd1.5Ca1.5MgNi14 and Er1.5Ca1.5MgNi14 alloys were prepared by high frequency induction melting and sintering. Characterization and analysis were performed by X-ray diffraction/Rietveld full-spectrum fitting, gaseous P-C-T hydrogen storage test and electrochemical properties tests. It can be found that all alloys consist of Gd2Co7-type 3R phase and Ce2Ni7-type 2H phase. Although the hydrogen storage capacities of Nd1.5Ca1.5MgNi14, Gd1.5Ca1.5MgNi14 and Er1.5Ca1.5MgNi14 decrease to some extent compared to that of Ca3MgNi14, their equilibrium pressures for absorption and desorption increase markedly. Moreover, R1.5Ca1.5MgNi14 alloys have better cycling stabilities and high-rate discharge(HRD) properties as compared to Ca3MgNi14. The hydrogen diffusion in alloy electrodes is the main factor to influence the HRD performance.