CATALYTIC HYDROGEN STORAGE ELECTRODE MATERIALS FOR USE IN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS AND ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS INCORPORATING THE MATERIALS

摘要

Disclosed is a reversible, electrochemical cell (10) having a high electrochemical activity, hydrogen storage negative electrode (12). The negative electrode is formed of a reversible, multicomponent, multiphase, electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy. The hydrogen storage alloy is capable of electrochemically charging and discharging hydrogen in alkaline aqueous media. In one preferred exemplification the hydrogen storage alloy is a member of the family of hydrogen storage alloys, derived from the V-Ti-Zr-Ni-Cr and V-Ti-Zr-Ni-Cr alloys in which the V, Ti, Zr, Ni and Cr are partially replaced by one or more modifiers, and the alloy has the composition: (Vy'-yNiyTix'-xZrxCrz)aM'bM''cM'''dM''''e, where x' is between 1.8 and 2.2, x is between 0 and 1.5, y' is between 3.6 and 4.4, y is between 0.6 and 3.5, z is between 0.00 and 1.44, a designates that the V-Ni-Ti-Zr-Cr component, as a group is from 70 to 100 atomic percent of the alloy, b, c, d, e, ..., are the coefficients on the modifiers, and M', M'', and M are modifiers which may be individually or collectively up to 30 atomic percent of the total alloy. The modifiers, and M', M'', M, and M are modifiers which may be individually or collectively up to 30 atomic percent of the total alloy. The modifiers, M', M'', M, and M are chosen from Al, Mn, Mo, Cu, W, Fe, Co, Si, Sn, Zn and combinations thereof.