AB5-type rare earth transition intermetallic compounds for the negative electrodes of rechargeable batteries

• Main Authors: MA, BAO-MIN, CHEN, QUN, PENG, TZUNG-PING, LANDI, JAMES
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.11.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ALLOYS; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CABLES; CHEMISTRY; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; CONDUCTORS; ELECTRICITY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; INORGANIC CHEMISTRY; INSULATORS; METALLURGY; NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY; REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGYGENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING ORDIELECTRIC PROPERTIES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS

Manganese-free rare earth-transition metal AB5-type hydrogen-absorbing alloys having favorable high rate discharge characteristics, suitable for use in rechargeable batteries for electrical vehicles or hybrid electrical vehicles, include compositions of the general formula: R(CouAlvMwNi1-u-v-w)z, where R is at least one element selected from rare earth elements and yttrium (Y), M is at least one refractory metal selected from groups IVB, VB, and VIB of the periodic table, the value of u is from 0 to about 0.25, v is from 0 to about 0.10, w is from 0 to about 0.05, and z, the ratio of R(CouAlvMwNi1-u-v-w)/R, is from about 4.70 to about 5.50. The unit cell volume is from about 87 to about 88.5 A3 at 25 DEG C, the plateau pressure is from about 3 to about 10 apsi at 25 DEG C, and the composition is essentially free of manganese.