Microstructure, hydrogen storage properties, and thermodynamic characterization of ball-milled Mg90Ni5Y5 90 Ni 5 Y 5 alloy

The hydrogen storage properties of the Mg90Ni5Y5 alloy were studied, which was prepared by vacuum electromagnetic induction melting and ball milling. The microstructure and phase evolution of the ball-milled alloys during the process of hydrogen absorption and desorption were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The alloys hydrogen storage properties were measured by semi-automatic Sievert instrument. Results show that the hydrogenated sample was composed of MgH2, Mg2NiH4 and YH3 phases. After dehydrogenation, Mg2NiH4 and MgH2 phases were completely decomposed, and YH3 could only be decomposed into YH2. After 2 cycles of adsorption dehydrogenation, the alloy was completely activated, and the maximum hydrogen desorption capacity was about 5.1 wt %. According to the Arrhenius equation, the ball-milled alloy activation energy of the dehydrogenation reaction of is only 75.7 kJ/mol.