Fabrication and electrochemical hydrogen storage performance of Ti49Zr26Ni25 alloy covered with Cd/Pd core/shell particles

Abstract A facile two-step reduction method is employed to obtain the Cd/Pd core/shell particles. Mechanical alloying and subsequent annealing are used to fabricate the Ti49Zr26Ni25 quasicrystal. Composite materials of Ti49Zr26Ni25 mixed with different contents of Cd/Pd particles are obtained via ball-milling. The electrochemical performance and kinetics properties of the alloy electrodes for Ni/MH secondary batteries are studied. Ultimately, a maximum discharge capacity of 272.9 mA h/g is achieved for 7% additive content of Cd/Pd. Ti49Zr26Ni25 + Cd/Pd shows higher capacity than Ti49Zr26Ni25 + Pd (246.8 mA h/g) and original Ti49Zr26Ni25 (212.5 mA h/g). Moreover, the composites also exhibit improved cyclic stability and high-rate dischargeability. The Cd/Pd particles with special core/shell microstructure can enhance the electro-catalytic activity of Pd. The Cd/Pd material covered on the surface of alloy can further decrease the charge-transfer resistance and accelerate the hydrogen transmission, thus improving the electrochemical properties and reaction kinetics of the electrode.