Effects of Cu on the microstructure and hydrogen storage properties of Mg-20Ni alloy

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China

^* Corresponding author: dingxin_hit@hit.edu.cn
^** Corresponding author: ruirunchen@hit.edu.cn

Abstract

In order to improve the hydrogen storage capacity of hypereutectic Mg-Ni alloy, the Mg₄₀Ni₁₀ and Mg₄₀Ni₈Cu₂ alloys were prepared by metallurgy method. The effects of Cu on the alloys’ phase composition, microstructure were studied systematically. The volumetric Sieverts’ method was used to test and analyze the activation performance and hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetic performance of the alloys. It was found that the partial substation of Ni in the Mg₂Ni-riched matrix alloy with Cu can change the primary Mg₂Ni and eutectic Mg-Mg₂Ni morphology of the alloy. With the doping of Cu content, although the activation property of the alloy decreases, the hydrogen storage capacity as well as the kinetic of hydrogen absorption and desorption are improved significantly.