Effects of nano-molybdenum coatings on the hydrogen storage properties of La–Mg–Ni based alloys

Abstract A relatively simple, but very effective method via magnetron sputtering process was used in the surface doping of the electrode plates. Molybdenum nano-particles coated electrodes were studied in the paper. The flower-like deposits appeared on the electrode plate surface, and Ni4Mo could be in-situ formed with the coating process. The hydrogen ab/desorption rates were accelerated at the beginning and dropped subsequently. The max discharge capacity and retention rate after twenty cycles of the St 5min sample reached about 370mAh/g and 92%, respectively. Comparing to the typical hydrogen storage alloys, they were much closed to the A2B7-type and have surpassed the most AB3-type Co-containing alloys. The activation energies and enthalpies of the various electrodes during the ab/dehydrogenation process were also discussed in details.