An enhanced quasicrystalline Ti1.4V0.6Ni alloy electrode modified by uniformly covered RGO for nickel metal hydride battery

Herein, we provided a facile route to coat a flat and uniformly covered reduced graphene oxide (RGO) film on Ti1.4V0.6Ni quasicrystal alloy electrode surface by electrodeposition of graphene oxide and subsequent reduction with HI vapor. Raman spectrum showed HI has a better reduced effect than electrochemical reduction. The RGO coated alloy electrode exhibited a higher discharge capacity of 290.3 mA h g(-1) and 23.8% higher capacity retention than the bare one after 50 cycles for the RGO layer effectively forbidding the direct contact of electrode and electrolyte. Moreover, Ti1.4V0.6Ni quasicrystal alloy with RGO coating exhibited faster hydrogen uptake kinetics by initial activation curve of gaseous hydrogen storage measurement and higher maximum hydrogen storage performance of 1.66 wt% than the bare Ti1.4V0.6Ni alloy. Thus, the enhanced properties of RGO as a multifunctional layer for Ti1.4V0.6Ni quasicrystal alloy were proved which could be achieved by a facile route.