Microstructure and gas-solid hydrogen storage properties of La1-xCexY2Ni10.95Mn0.45 (x = 0 – 0.75) alloys

RE-Y-Ni-based superlattice alloys have been studied for their high hydrogen storage capacity and excellent activation properties. However, their practical applications in gas-solid hydrogen storage devices are limited by their low hydrogen absorption/desorption platform pressure and the occurrence of a double platform phenomenon. In this study, we investigated the phase structure and gas-solid hydrogen storage properties of La1−xCexY2Ni10.95Mn0.45 (x = 0, 0.15, 0.30, 0.45, 0.60, 0.75) alloys. As the Ce content increases, the content of Ce2Ni7 phase and the platform pressure also increase, while the hydrogen storage capacity and hydrogen desorption enthalpy decrease. When the Ce content increases to 0.45, the Gd2Co7 phase disappears and the LaNi5 phase appears, the hydrogen absorption/desorption platform of the alloy changes from a double platform to a single platform. However, the increase in Ce content leads to a higher amount of residual hydrogen during the dehydrogenation process, attributed to the increased content of the Ce2Ni7 phase. The La0.55Ce0.45Y2Ni10.95Mn0.45 alloy exhibits a hydrogen absorption capacity of 1.61 wt%, with a capacity retention of 97.89% after 100 cycles, and achieves a hydrogen desorption platform pressure of 0.23 MPa. These results indicate that this alloy demonstrates the best overall hydrogen storage performance, characterized by high platform pressure and hydrogen storage capacity.