• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 1996

The Zr-based $AB_2$ type Laves phase hydrogen storage alloys have some promising properties, long cycle life, high discharge capacity, as electrode materials in reversible metal hydride batteries. However, when these alloys are used as negative electrode for battery, there is a problem that their rate capabilities are worse than those of commercialized $AB_5$ type hydrogen storage alloys. In this work, we tried to develop the Zr-based $AB_2$ type Laves phase hydrogen storage alloys which have high capacity and, especially, high rate capability.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 1997

$ZrV_{0.7}Mn_{0.5}Ni_{1.2}$ alloy is attractive for anode material in Ni/MH secondary battery because of its large hydrogen storage capacity in gas-solid reaction and long cycling durability in KOH electrolyte. In this work, in order to further improve the discharge performance of this alloy electrode, the alloy was annealed by optimal condition which is for 12 hours at $1000^{\circ}C$. The alloy annealed under optimal condition had higher rate capability and discharge capacity than as-cast one. The microstructure of the as-cast and annealed alloy was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Ni content in the matrix was increased, being this homogenized after annealing. Additionally, The measurement of the surface area by B.E.T. analysis showed that there was little difference as-cast and annealed alloy. Therefore, improvement in the rate capability of the annealed alloy is due to increase of Ni content in the matrix.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 1989

Although it has been well known that many metal hydrides are promising to use for hydrogen storage and other applications, some difficulties still remain. Metal hydrides, particularly in powder form, have very poor thermal conductivity. The hydrogen storage alloys degrade intrinsically or extrinsically during repeated hydriding and dehydriding. Elimination of these problems is very important in the practical applications. In order to prevent degradation and to improve the thermal conductivity, the hydrogen storage characteristics of rare-earth type alloy encapsulated with Cu or Ni by means of chemical plating have been investigated. No changes has occured in hydrogen absorption capacity and equilibrium pressure even though the alloy powder is microencapsulated. The first hydrogen absorption rate of the alloy encapsulated increased considerably comparing to uncapsulated sample. In the case of encapsulating the fine powder ($>10{\mu}m$) and subsequent compacting by $8ton/cm^2$, shape of compact is maintained regardless of hydriding and dehydriding. The degree of degradation of the alloy caused by impurity gas of CO or $O_2$ was decreased prominently by encapsulation.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.29-40
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• 1993

Intensive studies on the electrochemical characteristics of TiFe type alloy electrodes have been carried out to clarify the mechanism of electrochemical hydrogen absorption and desorption. It was found that electrochemical activation of the TiFe type alloys is difficult and that charge efficiencies are very low even after a decade of activation cycles. However, by the pretreatment of the powders such as gas activation and/or Ni chemical plating, charge efficiencies fairly increased, especially for the $TiFe_{0.8}Ni_{0.2}$ alloy. It was considered that difficulties to activation and lower charge efficies of the alloys are due to the presence of the passivation films, which prohibit inward diffusion of hydrogen and promote the combination of adsorbed hydrogen atom to gas bubbles during the electrochemical charge. In addition, lower diffusivity of hydrogen in the alloys may be played an important role lowering the charge efficiencies.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 1995

The MmNi-based alloy electrode was studied for use as a negative electrode in Ni-MH battery. Alloys with $MmNi_5-_xM_x$(M=Co,Al,Mn) composition were synthesized, and their electrode charateristics of activation rate, temperature dependence, electrode capacity and cycle life were investigated. With increasing Al content and decreasing Mn content in the alloys, the discharge capacity increased while the cycle life decreased. As x in $MmNi_5-_xM_x$ increased from 1.5 to 2.0, decreasing the Ni content, the discharge capacity, the low temperature property and the rate capability decreased. However its cycle life was improved. Increasing Co content resulted in a prolonged cycle life and decrease of high rate discharge capacity. It can be concluded that the most promising alloy in view of discharge capacity and cycle life is $MmNi_{3.5}Co_{0.7}Al_{0.5}Mn_{0.3}$.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.45-54
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• 1992

An applicability microencapsulation, using electroless copper plating, of hydrogen storage alloy powder as an anode material for nickel-hydrogen secondary batteries was investigated. Alloys employed were $LaNi_{4.7}Al_{0.3}$ and $MmNi_{4.5}Al_{0.5}$(Mm=mischmetal) which have an appropriate equilibrium pressure and capacity. The microencapsulation of the alloy powder was found to accelerate initial activation of electrodes and to increase capacity which is about 285mAh/g for $LaNi_{4.7}Al_{0.3}$. In addition, other charge and discharge characteristics, such as polarization and flatness of charge and discharge potential, were improved due to the role of copper layer as a microcurrent collector and an oxidation barrier of the alloy powder. $MmNi_{4.5}Al_{0.5}$ alloy showed lower capacity than $LaNi_{4.7}Al_{0.3}$ because of higher equilibrium pressure. Cyclic characteristics of both alloys were somewhat poor because of mainly shedding and partial oxidation of alloy powder during the cycling. However, it was considered that the microencapsulation method is effective to improve the performances of the hydrogen storage alloy electrodes.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2021

Material Life Cycle Assessment (MLCA) was performed to analyze the environmental impact characteristics of the Mg₂NiH_x-5 wt% CaO hydrogen storage composites' manufacturing process. The MLCA was carried out by Gabi software. It was based on Eco-Indicator 99' (EI99) and CML 2001 methodology. The Mg₂NiH_x-5 wt% CaO composites were synthesized by Hydrogen Induced Mechanical Alloying (HIMA). The metallurgical, thermochemical characteristics of the composites were analyzed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), specific surface area analysis (Bruner-Emmett-Teller, BET), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). As a result of the CML 2001 methodology, the environmental impact was 78% for Global Warming Potential (GWP) and 22% for Eutrophication Potential (ETP). In addition, as a result of applying the EI 99' methodology, the acidification was the highest at 43%, and the ecotoxicity was 31%. Accordingly, the amount of electricity used in the manufacturing process may have an absolute effect on environmental pollution. Also, it is judged that the leading cause of Mg₂NiH_x-5 wt% CaO is the addition of CaO. Ultimately, it is necessary to research environmental factors by optimizing the process, shortening the manufacturing process time, and exploring eco-friendly alternative materials.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.625-633
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• 2011

Characteristics of a commercial metal hydride (MH) hydrogen supply system have been investigated and an operating strategy was developed based on the experimental data. As a prior step, charging/discharging capacity, thermal properties such as heat capacity, heat of reaction of MH system were experimentally measured. And then P-C-T data for various operating conditions were collected and a correlation between P, C and T predicting the behavior of MH was derived. Based on the basic experimental data, an operating strategy of MH system was developed, in which the hot water temperature supplied into the water jacket of MH was controlled depending on the pressure of MH, thereby the pressure of MH could be maintained at a suitable range. By adjusting the temperature of hot water from $40^{\circ}C$ to $60^{\circ}C$, the maximum discharging capacity of hydrogen could be increased by 4.7%, and consequently more stable hydrogen supply and longer operation time of fuel cell system could be achieved.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2014

Mg hydride has a high hydrogen capacity (7.6%), at high temperature, and is a lightweight and low cost material, thus it a promising hydrogen storage material. However, its high operation temperature and very slow reaction kinetics are obstacles to practical application. In order to overcome these disadvantages of Mg hydride, graphene powder was added to it. The addition of graphene has been shown to reduce the operating temperature of dehydrogenation. Moreover, in this report the environmental aspects of $MgH_x$-Graphene composites are investigated by means of the environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) method. $MgH_x$-Graphene mixture was prepared by hydrogen induced mechanical alloy (HIMA). The synthesized powder was characterized by XRD(X-ray Diffraction). The hydrogenation behaviors were evaluated by using a Sievert's type automatic PCT apparatus. Such evaluation of Materials also conducted in the LCA. From the result of P-C-T(Pressure-Composition-Temperature) curves, the $MgH_x$-3wt.% graphene composite was evaluated as having a 5.86wt.% maximum hydrogen storage capacity, at 523K. From absorption kinetic testing, the $MgH_x$-7wt.% graphene composite was evaluated as having a maximum 6.94wt.%/ms hydrogen absorption rate, at 573K. Environment evaluation results for the $MgH_x$-graphene composites and other materials indicated environmental impact from the electric power used and from the materials themselves.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.177-189
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• 2001

T hydrogen absorption-desorption behavior induced by thermal or hydrogen pressure cycling in a closed system was observed in hydrogen storage alloys, $(La-R-Mm)Ni_{4.5}Fe_{0.5}$, $MmNi_4Fe_{0.85}Cu_{0.15}$ and $(Ce-F-Mm)Ni_{4.7}Al_{0.2}Fe_{0.1}$. Thereby (La-R-Mm), Mm and (Ce-F-Mm) refer to La-rich mischmetal, mischmetal and Ce-free mischmetal respectively. As the results, it is found that the alloy stabilities during thermal cycling varies with alloy composition change. The highest stability occurs in $MmNi_4Fe_{0.85}Cu_{0.15}$ and the lowest stability in $(La-R-Mm)Ni_{4.5}Fe_{0.5}$. Comparing hydrogen pressure cycling with thermal cycling, pressure cycling causes severer degradation of the alloy $(Ce-F-Mm)Ni_{4.7}Al_{0.2}Fe_{0.1}$ than thermal cycling. When the 1500 times-cycled alloy is annealed at $400^{\circ}C$ for 3hrs under 1 atm of hydrogen pressure the hydrogen storage capacity is recovered only partially but not completely to the initial capacity. The amount of capacity loss after annealing is larger in the hydrogen pressure cycled samples than in the thermal cycled, suggesting an incoming of impure gas during hydrogen pressure cycling.