California Institute of Technology

Nicholas J Weadock

Brent T Fultz

Heng Yang

Hongjin Tan

Bryce W Edwards

In an aspect, an electrochemical cell comprises: a positive electrode; a negative electrode, said negative electrode having an alloy having a composition comprising V; and an electrolyte; wherein an additive is provided in said electrolyte to form primary vanadate ions upon dissociation of said additive in said electrolyte; and wherein the electrochemical cell is a metal hydride battery. In some embodiments of this aspect, the alloy is configured to sorb hydrogen during charging of said electrochemical cell and desorb hydrogen during discharging of said electrochemical cell. In some embodiments of this aspect, the electrolyte has a pH selected from the range of 13 to 15.

High capacity corrosion resistant V-based metal hydride electrodes for rechargeable metal hydride batteries

Methods of preparing improved metal hydride alloy materials are provided. The alloys include a mixture of at least four of vanadium, titanium, nickel, chromium, and iron. The alloy is processed by at least one of thermal and physical treatment to generate a refined microstructure exhibiting improved kinetics when used as electrodes in MH batteries (e.g., higher discharge current). The thermal treatment includes rapid cooling of the alloy at greater than 10K/s. The physical treatment includes mechanical pulverization of the alloy after cooling. The microstructure is a single phase (body centered cubic) with a heterogeneous composition including a plurality of primary regions having a lattice parameter selected from the range of 3.02 &#x212b; to 3.22 &#x212b; and a plurality of secondary regions having a lattice parameter selected from the range of 3.00 &#x212b; to 3.22 &#x212b; and at least one physical dimension having a maximum average value less than 1 &#x3bc;m.

Growing community of inventors

Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Nicholas J Weadock