Electrochemical properties of Ti45Zr38-xNi17+x (0 ≤ x ≤ 8) quasicrystals produced by rapid-quenching

Discharge performances of Ti45Zr38-xNi17+x (0 <= x <= 8) ribbons produced by rapid-quenching were measured by a three-electrode cell at room temperature, and the effect of substitution of Ni for Zr was investigated. All the ribbons after rapid-quenching were mostly the icosahedral (i) quasicrystal phase with a negligible amount of C14 Laves phase (hcp). The discharge capacity increased with increasing amount of Ni substituted for Zr. The maximum discharge capacity achieved was about 90 mAh/g from (Ti45Zr30Ni25) ribbon after substitution of Ni for Zr. The discharge performance was almost stable against the charge/discharge cycle (until 15 cycles) for all the ribbons, and the i-phase structure was also stable even after the 15th charge/discharge cycle. No metal hydride formation was observed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.