Enhanced charge retention electrochemical hydrogen storage alloys and an enhanced charge retention electrochemical cell
AssigneeEnergy Conversion Devices, Inc.
InventorsSrini Venkatesan, Benjamin Reichman, Michael A. Fetcenko
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Abstract
A high charge retention, reversible, multicomponent, multiphase, electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy comprising titanium, vanadium, zirconium, nickel, and chromium. The hydrogen storage alloy is capable of electrochemically charging and discharging hydrogen in alkaline aqueous media. In one preferred exemplification the hydrogen storage alloy comprises (Ti.sub.2-x Zr.sub.x V.sub.4-y Ni.sub.y).sub.1-z Cr.sub.z where 0.0 is less than x is less than 1.5, 0.6 is less than y is less than 3.5, and z is an effective amount less than 0.20. Also disclosed is a rechargeable, electrochemical cell utilizing a negative electrode formed of the alloy.
Claims59
A reversible, multicomponent, multiphase, electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy capable of electrochemically changing and discharging hydrdogen in an alkaline media, said hydrogen storage alloy having the composition (Ti.sub.2-x Zr.sub.x V.sub.4-y Ni.sub.y).sub.z Cr.sub.1-z where 0.0<x<1.5, 0.6<y<3.5, and z is an effective amount less then 0.20, and comprising multicomponent hydrogen storage phases capable of reversibly storing hydrogen, where at least one of the components in the said multicomponent hydrogen storage phase is soluble in the alkaline media, and wherein the said multicomponent, multiphase hydrogen storage alloy further includes chromium as a modifier to inhibit the corrosion of the soluble component into the strongly ionic aqueous media.
A reversible, multicomponent, multiphase, electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy comprising titanium, vanadium, zirconium, nickel, and chromium, having the composition (Ti.sub.2-x Zr.sub.x V.sub.4-y Ni.sub.y).sub.1-2 Cr.sub.z where 0.0<x<1.5, 0.6<y<3.5, and z is an effective amount less then 0.20;
- said hydrogen storage alloy being capable of electrochemically charging and discharging hydrogen in alkaline aqueous media, the vanadium in said multicomponent hydrogen storage phase normally being soluble in the alakline, aqueous media, and the chromium acting to inhibit the solubilization of the vanadium into the aqueous alkaline aqueous media.
A sealed, rechargeable electrochemical cell comprising:
- (a) a positive electrode;
- (b) a negative electrode comprising a body of modified multiphase, multicompoennt, reversible electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy comprising titanium, vanadium, zirconium, nickel, and chromium, having the composition (Ti.sub.2-x Zr.sub.x V.sub.4-y Ni.sub.y).sub.1-2 Cr.sub.z where 0.0<x<0.5, 0.6<y<3.5, and z is a positive number less then 0.20;
- (c) a separator means positioned between the positive and negative electrodes;
- (d) electrolyte means in contact with the separator means and the positive and negative electrodes;
- and
- (e) sealed container means containing the positive and negative electrodes, spacer means, and electrolyte means in operative relationship.
A reversible, negative, electrochemical hydrogen storage electrode adapted for use in a sealed, rechargeable hydrogen storage battery, said electrode comprising a modified, multiphase, multicomponent, reversible electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy formed of titanium, vanadium, zirconium, nickel, and chromium, having the composition (Ti.sub.2-x Zr.sub.x V.sub.4-y Ni.sub.y).sub.1-z Cr.sub.z where 0.0<x<1.5, 0.6<y<3.5, and z is an effective amount less then 0.20,
- said hydrogen storage alloy being capable of electrochemically charging and discharging hydrogen in aqueous alkaline media.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.