Improvement of hydriding kinetics of LaNi5-type metal alloy through substitution of nickel with tin followed by palladium deposition

Hydrogen absorption performances of LaNi5 alloy are sensitive to the surface reactions with poisonous gases, such as oxygen, readily forming oxides/hydroxides. In this study, we report studies on hydrogen behaviour AB5-type storage alloys, formed by LaNi(5–x)Snx (X = 0.2) followed electroless Pd deposition. The uncoated and Pd-coated materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), atomic (AAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) Brunauer–Emmet–Teller. XRD analyses indicated that both LaNi4.8Sn0.2 alloys crystallize in CaCu5-type crystal structure, while SEM analysis particle size distribution histograms showed increment upon Sn incorporation. Palladium particles detected AAS EDS analyses. Furthermore, substitution a small fraction Ni leads an increase capacity even without activation. Moreover, decrease rate was observed for related crystalline unit cell volume. Kinetic curves show superior kinetics compared their counterparts due high affinity hydrogen.