Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Matushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Naoko Owada

Yoichiro Tsuji

Tsutomu Iwaki

Yasuharu Yamamura

Hajime Seri

In a method for producing a multi-component hydrogen storage alloy including metals of zirconium or vanadium, oxides of these metals is used to produce an alloy having characteristics equivalent to that produced with pure metals. It comprises steps of calcining the raw material, wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of zirconium and vanadium is included in its oxide form, at a temperature ranging from 900.degree. C. to 1300.degree. C., mixing metal calcium with said calcined raw material, and treating the mixture with heat at a temperature ranging from the melting point of metal calcium to 1300.degree. C., under inert gas atmosphere.

Method for producing hydrogen storage alloy

A hydrogen storage alloy preferably used for electrodes in alkaline rechargeable battery is of the general formula: Zr.sub.1.2-a Ti.sub.a Mn.sub.v Al.sub.w Ni.sub.x M.sub.y Cr.sub.z wherein M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Zn, Sn, Fe, Mo, Cu and Co; and wherein 0.1.ltoreq.a&lt;1.2, 0.4.ltoreq.v.ltoreq.1.2, 0&lt;w.ltoreq.0.3, 0.8.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.6, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.2, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.3, and 1.7.ltoreq.(v+w+x+y+z).ltoreq.2.7. The alloy has at least one of a C14-type Laves phase of a crystal structure similar to that of MgZn.sub.2 and a C15-type Laves phase of a crystal structure similar to that of MgCu.sub.2 as a main alloy phase.

Hydrogen storage alloy and electrode therefrom

A hydrogen storage alloy preferably used for electrodes in an alkaline storage battery is provided. The alloy is of the general formula ZrMn.sub.w V.sub.x Mo.sub.b M.sub.y Ni.sub.z, wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe and Co and 0.4.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.8, 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.3, 0.05.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.0.2, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.2, 1.0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.5, and 2.0.ltoreq.w+x+b+y+z.ltoreq.2.4. The alloy has C15-type Laves phases of a crystal structure similar to that of MgCu.sub.2 as a main alloy phase, and a lattice constant 'a' such that 7.05 .ANG..ltoreq.a.ltoreq.7.13 .ANG..

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Katano, Japan

Naoko Owada