# US 2014/0193747 A1 · Metal hydride alloy with catalyst particles and channels

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- Number: US 2014/0193747 A1
- Document ID: US20140193747A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/735,634
- Filed: 2013-01-07
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07
- Assignees: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
- Applicants: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
- Inventors: Kwo Young; Benjamin Reichman; Michael A. Fetcenko
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193747A1

## CPC

- H01M 4/383: {Hydrogen absorbing alloys}
- H01M 4/62: Selection of inactive substances as ingredients for active masses, e.g. binders, fillers
- H01M 4/385: {of the type LaNi5}
- H01M 10/345: {Gastight metal hydride accumulators}
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The performance of an ABx type metal hydride alloy is improved by adding an element to the alloy which element is operative to enhance the surface area morphology of the alloy. The alloy may include surface regions of differing morphologies.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hydrogen storage material for use as anode in an electrochemical cell which also contains a cathode and an electrolyte, said hydrogen storage material having an interface oxide region with channels distributed therein, said channels having interior surfaces; said oxide region characterized by the presence of metallic, catalytic particles formed on said channel surfaces and said hydrogen storage material characterized by low charge transfer resistance at cold temperature: wherein at least some of the catalytic nickel particles on said channel surfaces are directly exposed to said electrolyte interiorly of said channels, whereby the electrolyte reacts on the surface of the catalyst as though no oxide interface was present.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hydrogen storage material of claim 1, wherein the channels have a cross-sectional dimension of 25-150 angstroms and a length dimension greater than the cross-sectional dimension.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The hydrogen storage material of claim 1, wherein the average dimension of the catalytic particles is 5-15 angstroms.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hydrogen storage material of claim 1, wherein the metallic catalytic particles include Ni.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hydrogen storage material of claim 1, wherein said material is selected from the group consisting essentially of AB2, AB3, AB5, or A2B7.

### Claim 6

A hydrogen storage material having a bulk metal region and an interface oxide region, said interface region having a plurality of catalytic channels defined therethrough, said channels having a cross-sectional dimension in the range of 25-150 angstroms and a length which is greater than said cross-sectional dimension, said channels including a plurality catalytic sites formed on and extending from the interior surfaces thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The material of claim 6, wherein said sites having a concentration of nickel which is greater than the concentration of nickel in the remainder of said alloy.

### Claim 8

An ABx (1≦x≦5) metal hydride material having an interface oxide region, said interface region having a plurality of catalytic channels disposed therethrough, said channels having an average cross-sectional dimension in the range of 25-150 angstroms and a length which is greater than said cross-sectional dimension, said channels having catalytic particles formed on and extending from the interior surfaces thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The metal hydride material of claim 8, wherein said oxide region forms a matrix portion with said catalytic channels portions disposed in spaced relationship therein, said channels portions having a concentration of said catalytic channels defined therein.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The metal hydride material of claim 9, wherein a composition of the matrix portion of said metal hydride material differs from the concentration of said channel portions thereof.