Hydrogen storage kinetics of nanocrystalline and amorphous NdMg12-type alloy-Ni composites synthesized by mechanical milling

Nanocrystalline and amorphous NdMg11Ni + x wt.% Ni (x = 100, 200) composites were synthesized by mechanical milling, and their gaseous and electrochemical hydrogen storage kinetic performances were systematically investigated. Hydrogen absorption and desorption properties were investigated by means of a Sievert apparatus and a differential scanning calorimeter connected with an H-2 detector. Electrochemical hydrogen storage kinetics of the as-milled alloys were tested by an automatic galvanostatic system. Results show that increasing Ni content significantly improves gaseous and electrochemical hydrogen storage kinetics. The improved gaseous hydrogen storage kinetics of the alloys are ascribed to the decrease in hydrogen desorption activation energy caused by increasing Ni content and milling time.