MATERIAL ATIVO PARA UM ELETRODO DE ARMAZENAGEM DE HIDROGENIO,ELETRODO DE ARMAZENAGEM DE HIDROGENIO PARA USO EM UMA PILHA ELETROQUIMICA PILHA ELETROQUIMICA,BATERIA,E PROCESSOS PARA A FABRICACAO DE UM ELETRODO USANDO UM MATERIAL ATIVO PARA ARMAZENAR HIDROGENIO E PARA A FABRICACAO DE UM MATERIAL ATIVO PARA ARMAZENAR HIDROGENIO PARA USO EM UM ELETRODO

摘要

The present invention provides novel active materials which reversibly store hydrogen under conditions which make them exceptionally well-suited for elecrochemical applications. These active materials have both novel compositions and structures. A first group of active material compositions incorporate the elements of titanium, vanadium, and nickel. A second group adds zirconium to the first group of active materials. A preferred third composition group adds chromium to the first group of active materials. These materials may be single or multiphase combinations of amorphous, microcrystalline, or polycrystalline structures. Preferably, these materials have a multiphase polycrystalline structure. Methods of reducing the size or of sizing these materials, as well as other hydride-forming alloys, also are provided. Methods of preparing the inventive hydrogen storage materials and fabricating electrodes from these active materials are contemplated. Electrochemical cells and batteries assembled with the inventive electrodes provide significantly improved capacity and cycle life.