Hydrogen storage materials having excellent kinetics, capacity, and cycle stability

• US 20050135961A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harnyss IP LLC
• Original Assignee: Ovonic Hydrogen Systems LLC
• Inventors: Li, Feng, Ovshinsky, Stanford R., Fetcenko, Michael A., Im, Jun, Reinhout, Melanie, Ouchi, Taihei, Young, Kwo
• Granted Patent: US 7,344,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 420/424
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/0031 Intermetallic compounds; Metal alloys; Treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 14/00 Alloys based on titanium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 27/025 alloys based on vanadium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 27/06 Alloys based on chromium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 30/00 Alloys containing less than 50% by weight of each constituent
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 420/90 Hydrogen storage

Abstract

A BCC phase hydrogen storage alloy capable of storing approximately 4.0 wt. % hydrogen and delivering reversibly up to 3.0 wt. % hydrogen at temperatures up to 110° C. The hydrogen storage alloys also possess excellent kinetics whereby up to 80% of the hydrogen storage capacity of the hydrogen storage alloy may be reached in 30 seconds and 80% of the total hydrogen storage capacity may be desorbed from the hydrogen storage alloy in 90 seconds. The hydrogen storage alloys also have excellent stability which provides for long cycle life.

Claims

1. A hydrogen storage alloy capable of absorbing at least 80% of its hydrogen storage capacity within 180 seconds, desorbing at least 80% of its total hydrogen storage capacity within 180 seconds, and reversibly storing at least 2.2 weight percent hydrogen at temperatures up to 110°

C.

2. The hydrogen-storage alloy according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen storage alloy is capable of absorbing at least 80% of its hydrogen storage capacity within 30 seconds and desorbing at least 80% of its total hydrogen storage capacity within 90 seconds at temperatures up to 110°

C.

3. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 1, wherein at least 85% of said hydrogen storage alloy reverts to a BCC crystal structure and/or a BCT crystal structure from a FCC crystal structure upon desorption of hydrogen from said hydrogen storage alloy.

4. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 1, wherein at least 90% of said hydrogen storage alloy reverts to a BCC crystal structure and/or a BCT crystal structure from a FCC crystal structure upon desorption of hydrogen from said hydrogen storage alloy.

5. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 1, wherein at least 95% of said hydrogen storage alloy reverts to a BCC crystal structure and/or a BCT crystal structure from a FCC crystal structure upon desorption of hydrogen from said hydrogen storage alloy.

6. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 1, wherein the lattice constant of said hydrogen storage alloy is in the range of 3.015 to 3.045 angstroms.

7. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 6, wherein the lattice constant of said hydrogen storage alloy is in the range of 3.015 to 3.028 angstroms.

8. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 6, wherein the lattice constant of said hydrogen storage alloy is in the range of 3.028 to.3.045 angstroms.

9. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 1, wherein the surface of said hydrogen storage alloy is substantially free of any oxides.

10. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen storage alloy has a cycle life greater than 700 cycles.

11. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen storage alloy reversibly stores up to 2.83 weight percent hydrogen at 90°

C.

12. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen storage alloy reversibly stores up to 3.01 weight percent hydrogen at 110°

C.

13. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 1, wherein said alloy is cooled at a quench rate in the range of 10² to 10³ IC/second.

14. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen storage alloy has a single phase BCC structure.

15. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen storage comprises:

8.0 to 45 atomic percent titanium;

5.0 to 75 atomic percent vanadium; and

10 to 65 atomic percent chromium.

16. The hydrogen storage alloy according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen storage alloy further comprises one or more modifier elements selected from nickel, manganese, molybdenum, aluminum, iron, silicon, magnesium, ruthenium, or cobalt, wherein said modifier elements are present in an amount greater than 0 up to 16 atomic percent.

17. A process for producing a hydrogen storage alloy, said process comprising:

1) forming a hydrogen storage alloy having two or more elements;

2) annealing said hydrogen storage alloy to form a substantially single phase BCC structure;

3) quenching said annealed hydrogen storage alloy at a cooling rate in the range of 10² to 10³°

C./second; and

4) inhibiting the formation of said oxides on the surface of said hydrogen storage alloy during quenching and/or removing said oxides from the surface of said hydrogen storage alloy after quenching.

18. The process according to claim 17, wherein said hydrogen storage alloy is formed via arc melting, cold wall induction melting, or levitation melting techniques.

19. The process according to claim 17, wherein said hydrogen storage alloy is annealed at a temperature in the range of 1350°

C. to 1450°

C.

20. The process according to claim 17, wherein said hydrogen storage alloy is quenched in liquid argon, liquid nitrogen, or water.

21. The process according to claim 17, wherein said oxides on the surface of said hydrogen storage alloy are removed via etching or mechanical grinding.