Nanocrystalline Ni-based alloys and use thereof for the transportation and storage of hydrogen
US5763363A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 26, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 9, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 26, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S420/90
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A powder of an alloy of Ni and Mg, La, Be or Li, consisting of crystallites having a grain size lower than 100 nm and a crystalline structure allowing hydrogen absorption. This powder which is preferably obtained by mechanical grinding, may consist of cristallites of Mg.sub.2 Ni, LaNi.sub.5 or of Ni-based alloys of Be or Li having a grain size lower than 100 nm. The powder may also consist of cristallites of formula Mg.sub.2-x Ni.sub.1+x, x ranging from -0.3 to +0.3, which have a grain size lower than 100 nm, and preferably lower than 30 nm. This crystalline powder is particularly useful for storing and transporting hydrogen. Indeed, it has been discovered that such Ni-based nanocrystalline powder requires no or only one single activation treatment at low temperature to absorb hydrogen. It has also been discovered that the kinetic of absorption and diffusion of hydrogen within the powder is much faster. This can be explained by the presence of a large number of grain boundaries.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.