Electrochemical behaviour of multicomponent Zr---Ti---V---Mn---Cr---Ni alloys in alkaline solution

The effect of the composition of multicomponent Zr---Ti---V---Mn---Cr---Ni alloys on their hydrogen-storage capacity and on the rate of electrosorption/desorption of hydrogen was investigated under potentiodynamic as well as single-pulse and long-term galvanostatic conditions. The main characteristics of alloys and alloy electrodes were determined by their structural analysis by means of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope, by specific surface are tests and by determination of the hydrogen absorption/desorption isotherms in the gas/solid phase system. It was found that only the alloys with a manganese content below a threshold could be used as electrode materials for Ni---MH batteries, whereas the modification of the electrode material by micro-encapsulation of alloy particles should limit the dissolution of manganese from the electrode material in a strong alkaline solution.