Hydrogen storage performance of LaNi3.95Al0.75Co0.3 alloy with different preparation methods

Rare-earth AB5-type La–Ni–Al hydrogen storage alloys are widely studied due to their extensive application potentials in hydrogen isotope storage, hydrogen isotope isolation and hydrogen compressors, etc. Good hydriding/dehydriding kinetics, easily activation, high reversibility are important factors for their practical application. However, their overall hydrogen storage performance, especially plateau pressure and hydrogen absorption/desorption durability need to be further optimized. In this study, the microstructures and the hydrogen storage properties of as-cast, annealed, and melt-spun LaNi3.95Al0.75Co0.3 alloys were investigated. The experimental results of XRD and SEM showed that all alloys contained a pure CaCu5 type hexagonal structure LaNi4Al phase. The cell volume increased in an order of annealed ​> ​melt-spun ​> ​as-cast, resulting in a lower hydrogen absorption/desorption plateau pressure and a more stable hydride phase. The hydrogen storage capacity of three alloys was almost the same. The slope factor of the annealed and melt-spun alloys is smaller than the as-cast alloy, indicating that heat-treatment process can make the alloys more uniform. For the cycle stability of the alloys, the hydrogen absorption rate of the annealed alloy and melt-spun alloy was much faster than that of the as-cast alloy after 500 cycles. The melt-spun alloy showed high pulverization resistance during hydrogen absorption/desorption, and exhibited an excellent cycling retention of 99% after 500 cycles, suggesting that melt-spinning process can enhance the cycle stability and improve the cycle life of the alloy.