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

Journal Article · · Journal of the Electrochemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.1838087· OSTI ID:564078
; ;  [1]; ;  [2]
  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, Vol. 144, Issue 11; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English