Electrochemical properties of LaNi{sub 5{minus}x}Ge{sub x} alloys in Ni-MH batteries

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.1838087· OSTI ID:564078

Witham, C; Hightower, A; Fultz, B ^[1]; Ratnakumar, B V; Bowman, Jr, R C ^[2]

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1. California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA (United States). Div. of Engineering and Applied Science
2. Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (United States)

Electrochemical studies were performed on LaNi{sub 5{minus}x}Ge{sub x} metal hydride alloys with 0 {le} x {le} 0.5. The authors carried out single-electrode studies to understand the effects of the Ge substituent on the hydrogen absorption characteristics, the electrochemical capacity, and the electrochemical kinetics of hydrogen absorption and desorption. The electrochemical characteristics of the Ge-substituted alloys are compared to those of the Sn-substituted alloys reported earlier. LaNi{sub 5{minus}x}Ge{sub x} alloys show compositional trends similar to LaNi{sub 5{minus}x}Sn{sub x} alloys, but unlike the Sn-substituted alloys, Ge-substituted alloys continue to exhibit facile kinetics for hydrogen absorption/desorption at high solute concentrations. Cycle lives of LaNi{sub 5{minus}x}Ge{sub x} electrodes were measured in 300 mAh laboratory test cells and were found to be superior to the Sn-substituted LaNi{sub 5} and comparable to a Mm(Ni, Co, Mn, Al){sub 5} alloy. The optimum Ge content for LaNi{sub 5{minus}x}Ge{sub x} metal hydride alloys in alkaline rechargeable cells is in the range 0.4 {le} x {le} 0.5.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG03-94ER14493
• OSTI ID: 564078
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 144; ISSN JESOAN; ISSN 0013-4651
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
GERMANIUM
GERMANIUM ALLOYS
HYDRIDATION
HYDROGEN STORAGE
LANTHANUM ALLOYS
METALLURGICAL EFFECTS
NICKEL ALLOYS
NICKEL-HYDROGEN BATTERIES