Mg-based nanomaterials for energy storage

The paper present the advantages of some Mg-based nanostructured hydrogen storage materials. An amorphous and/or nanocrystalline Mg2M (M=Fe, Ni, Cu) hydrogen storage alloys were prepared by mechanical alloying. For example, the powder 2Mg+Cu mixture mechanically alloyed for more than 18 h has transformed directly to an orthorhombic-type phase. In this powder, discharge capacity up to 26 mA h g(-1) was measured. It was found that nickel substituting copper in Mg2Cu1-xNix alloy greatly improved the discharge capacity of studied material. In nanocrystalline Mg2Ni powder, discharge capacities up to 100 mA h g(-1) were measured. Additionally, it was found that the nickel powder addition to 2Mg+M/x wt% Ni is advantageous for the formation of Mg-M amorphous structure and for the improvement of the electrochemical properties of the studied alloys. On the other hand, the reaction of hydrogen gas with Mg2M/Ni nanocomposite is enhanced significantly by the addition of catalysts such as titanium.