Electrochemical behavior of Zr-based AB2 type alloys partially substituted by Ti

The electrochemical characterization of Zr1-xTixCrNi alloys, with x ranging between 0.1 and 0.4, was carried out in order to determine its possible application as negative electrode in nickel/metal-hydride rechargeable batteries. Electrodes of this alloy were tested along charge and discharge cycles. The effects of charge velocity and temperature on the electrode capacity were also investigated. The results obtained show that: i) the Zr rich alloy electrodes exhibit the highest discharge capacities, attaining up to 160 mAh/g, and the best performances during fast charge-discharge cycling; ii) the discharge capacity increases with temperature; iii) potential cycling at 1 mV/s decrease the time of activation of the alloy electrode as compared with that observed during galvanostatic cycling.