Effects of Surface Coating on the Electrochemical Properties of Amorphous CeMg12 Composite

Amorphous CeMg12 was prepared by ball milled CeMg12 alloy with Ni powder. The effects of mechanical grinding and electroless deposition of nickel (EDN) on the electrochemical properties of CeMg12 composites have been studied systematically. Amorphous CeMg12 composites have a maximum discharge capacity of 1209.6 mAh/g, but their cycling stability is poor. The cycling retention rate of the electrode is 37.26% after 10 cycles. After EDN treatment, the cycling stability of CeMg12 composite is improved markedly, and the cycling retention rate increases to 63.67% after 10 cycles. The improvement of cycling retention rate can be attributed to compact nickel coating that prevents the inner Mg from further corrosion by alkali. The nickel coating also enhances the high rate discharge (HRD) property of the composite owning to the good electrochemical catalytic properties of Ni. As oxidation and corrosion is unavoidable during EDN treatment, the maximum discharge capacity decreases slightly for CeMg12 composite with EDN treatment.