Structural and hydriding properties of the AB2-system with nanostructure.

The ZrV2/Ni and Zr0.35Ti0.65V0.85Cr0.25Ni1.30 alloy powders of nanometric -scale were succesfully synthesized by high-energy ball milling (HEBM) of precursor alloys in an argon atmosphere at room temperature. The relations between their structural and hydriding properties were investigated in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as by P-C-T and electrochemical measurements. In this work, we have found that electrochemical activity of ZrV2 can be simulated by HEBM of the alloy powder with Ni powder. X-ray and SEM analyses indicated that the elemental nickel is distributed on the surface of HEBM alloy particles homogeneously. The nanocomposite ZrV2/Ni powders showed an improved discharge capacity.