Abstract: In order to investigate the influences of the stoichiometric ratio of B/A (A: gross A-site elements, B: gross B-site elements) and the substitution of Co for Ni on the structures and electrochemical performances of the AB3.5−4.1-type electrode alloys, the La-Mg-Ni-Co system La0.75Mg0.25Ni3.5Mx (M=Ni, Co; x= 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6) alloys were prepared by induction melting in a helium atmosphere. The structures and electrochemical performances of the alloys were systemically measured. The results show that the structures and electrochemical performances of the alloys are closely relevant to the B/A ratio. All the alloys exhibit a multiphase structure, including two major phases, (La, Mg)2Ni7 and LaNi5, and a residual phase LaNi2, and with rising ratio B/A, the (La,Mg)2Ni7 phase decreases and the LaNi5 phase increases significantly. When ratio B/A=3.7, the alloys obtain the maximum discharge capacities. The high rate discharge(HRD) capability of the alloy (M=Ni) monotonously rises with growing B/A ratio, but that of the alloy (M=Co) first mounts up then declines. The cycle stability of the alloy (M=Co) monotonously increases with rising B/A ratio, but it first decreases slightly then increases for the alloy (M=Ni). The discharge potential of the alloy (M=Ni) declines with increasing B/A ratio (x＞0.2), but for the alloy (M=Co), the result is contrary. The substitution of Co for Ni significantly ameliorates the electrochemical performances. For a fixed ratio B/A=3.7, the Co substitution enhances the discharge capacity from 365.7 to 401.8 mA∙h/g, the capacity retention ratio (S100) after 100 charging-discharging cycles from 50.32% to 53.26% and the HRD from 88.65% to 90.69%.

Key words: stoichiometric ratio; La-Mg-Ni-Co alloy; hydrogen storage alloy; substitution; Co; Ni