Effect of boron addition on the microstructure and electrochemical performance of La2Mg(Ni0.85Co0.15)9 hydrogen storage alloy

In order to improve the electrochemical performances of La–Mg–Ni system (PuNi3-type) hydrogen storage alloy, a trace of boron was added in La2Mg(Ni0.85Co0.15)9 and rapid quenching techniques were used. La2Mg(Ni0.85Co0.15)9Bx (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) hydrogen storage alloys were prepared by casting and rapid quenching. The microstructures and electrochemical performances of the as-cast and quenched alloys were determined and measured. The effects of the boron content and the quenching rate on the microstructures and electrochemical performances of the alloys were investigated in detail. The obtained results show that the as-cast and quenched alloys are composed of the (La, Mg)Ni3 phase (PuNi3 structure), the LaNi5 phase and the LaNi2 phase. A trace of the Ni2B phase exists in the as-cast alloys containing boron. The Ni2B phase in the alloys containing boron nearly disappears after rapid quenching and the relative amount of each phase in the alloys changes with the variety of the quenching rate. The addition of boron obviously enhances the cycle stability of the as-cast and quenched alloys. The effects of boron content on the capacities of the as-cast and quenched alloys are different. The capacities of the as-cast alloys monotonously decrease with the increase of boron content, whereas the capacities of the as-quenched alloys have a maximum value with the change of boron content. The as-cast and quenched alloys have an excellent activation performance.