Clarifying the capacity deterioration mechanism sheds light on the design of ultra-long-life hydrogen storage alloys

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Vol. 352; pp. 325 - 332
• Main Authors: Wang, C.C., Zhou, Y.T., Yang, C.C., Jiang, Q.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.11.2018
• Subjects: Cycling life; Hydrogen storage alloy; New-energy vehicle; Nickel metal hydride battery; Surface coordination state; New-energy vehicle; Nickel metal hydride battery; Cycling life; Hydrogen storage alloy; Surface coordination state
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2018.07.024

[Display omitted] •The nature behind the capacity deterioration of HSAs is clarified.•The atomic coordination state is critical for the corrosion resistance of HSAs.•The as-designed alloy shows the longest cycle life of 2415 cycles.•The usage cost of Ni-MH battery based on this alloy is 1/5 that of Li-ion battery. The intrinsic relationship between the atomic structure and macroscopic corrosion behavior has been established, which proposes that the atomic coordination state is another key factor affecting the corrosion resistance and cycling life of hydrogen storage alloys besides elements electronegativity. The density functional theory simulation and experimental results confirm the predictions, shedding light on the design of ultra-long-life hydrogen storage alloys. The as-designed alloy La0.73Ce0.17Y0.1Ni3.75Co1.0Mn0.3Al0.35 exhibits an ultra-long 2415-cycle life, which is almost five times that of the traditional commercial alloy. The usage costs of nickel metal hydride battery based on this alloy is only 1/5 that of Li-ion battery, showing broad market prospect.