Batteries

3226 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Structure, Hydrogen Storage, and Electrochemical Properties of Body-Centered-Cubic Ti₄₀V₃₀Cr₁₅Mn₁₃X₂ Alloys (X = B, Si, Mn, Ni, Zr, Nb, Mo, and La)

by Kwo-Hsiung Young, Taihei Ouchi, Baoquan Huang and Jean Nei

Batteries 2015, 1(1), 74-90; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries1010074 - 10 Dec 2015

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6975

Abstract

Structure, gaseous phase hydrogen storage, and electrochemical properties of a series of TiVCrMn-based body-centered-cubic (BCC) alloys with different partial substitutions for Mn with covalent elements (B and Si), transition metals (Ni, Zr, Nb, and Mo), and rare earth element (La) were investigated. Although [...] Read more.

Structure, gaseous phase hydrogen storage, and electrochemical properties of a series of TiVCrMn-based body-centered-cubic (BCC) alloys with different partial substitutions for Mn with covalent elements (B and Si), transition metals (Ni, Zr, Nb, and Mo), and rare earth element (La) were investigated. Although the influences from substitutions on structure and gaseous phase storage properties were minor, influences on electrochemical discharge capacity were significant. The first cycle capacity ranged from 16 mAh·g⁻¹ (Si-substituted) to 247 mAh·g⁻¹ (Mo-substituted). Severe alloy passivation in 30% KOH electrolyte was observed, and an original capacity close to 500 mAh·g⁻¹ could possibly be achieved by Mo-substituted alloy if a non-corrosive electrolyte was employed. Surface coating of Nafion to the Mo-substituted alloy was able to increase the first cycle capacity to 408 mAh·g⁻¹, but the degradation rate in mAh·g⁻¹·cycle⁻¹ was still similar to that of standard testing. Electrochemical capacity was found to be closely related to BCC phase unit cell volume and width of the an extra small pressure plateau at around 0.3 MPa on the 30 °C pressure-concentration-temperature (PCT) desorption isotherm. Judging from its high electrochemical discharge capacity, Mo was the most beneficial substitution in BCC alloys for Ni/metal hydride (MH) battery application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

769 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Salt Additives to the KOH Electrolyte Used in Ni/MH Batteries

by Suli Yan, Kwo-Hsiung Young and K.Y. Simon Ng

Batteries 2015, 1(1), 54-73; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries1010054 - 27 Nov 2015

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 9233

Abstract

KOH-based electrolytes with different salt additives were investigated to reduce their corrosive nature toward Mg/Ni metal hydride alloys used as negative electrodes in nickel metal hydride (Ni/MH) batteries. Alkaline metal halide salts and oxyacid salts were studied as additives to the traditional KOH [...] Read more.

KOH-based electrolytes with different salt additives were investigated to reduce their corrosive nature toward Mg/Ni metal hydride alloys used as negative electrodes in nickel metal hydride (Ni/MH) batteries. Alkaline metal halide salts and oxyacid salts were studied as additives to the traditional KOH electrolyte with concentrations varying from 0.005 M to 1.77 M. Effects of the cations and anions of the additives on charge/discharge performance are discussed. The reduction potential of alkaline cations and radii of halogen anions were correlated with initial capacity and degradation of the metal hydride alloy. A synergistic effect between KOH and some oxyacid salt additives was observed and greatly influenced by the nature of the salt additives. It was suggested that both the formation of a solid film over the metal hydride surface and the promotion of proton transfer in the additives containing electrolytes led to a decreased degradation of the electrodes and an increased discharge capacity. 12 salt additives, NaC₂H₃O₂, KC₂H₃O₂, K₂CO₃, Rb₂CO₃, Cs₂CO₃, K₃PO₄, Na₂WO₄, Rb₂SO₄, Cs₂SO₄, NaF, KF, and KBr, were found to increase the corrosion resistance of the MgNi-based metal hydride alloy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

2102 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Vanadium/Nickel Contents in Laves Phase-Related Body-Centered-Cubic Solid Solution Metal Hydride Alloys

by Kwo-hsiung Young, Diana F. Wong and Jean Nei

Batteries 2015, 1(1), 34-53; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries1010034 - 20 Nov 2015

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6338

Abstract

Structural, gaseous phase hydrogen storage, and electrochemical properties of a series of annealed (900 °C for 12 h) Laves phase-related body-centered-cubic (BCC) solid solution metal hydride (MH) alloys with vanadium/nickel (V/Ni) contents ranging from 44/18.5 to 28/34.5 were studied. As the average Ni-content [...] Read more.

Structural, gaseous phase hydrogen storage, and electrochemical properties of a series of annealed (900 °C for 12 h) Laves phase-related body-centered-cubic (BCC) solid solution metal hydride (MH) alloys with vanadium/nickel (V/Ni) contents ranging from 44/18.5 to 28/34.5 were studied. As the average Ni-content increases, C14 phase evolves into the C15 phase and a new σ-VNi phase emerges; lattice constants in BCC, C14, and TiNi phase all decrease; the main plateau pressure increases; both gaseous phase and electrochemical hydrogen storage capacities decrease; the pressure-concentration-temperature (PCT) absorption/desorption hysteresis decreases; both high-rate dischargeability (HRD) and bulk hydrogen diffusivity increase and then decrease; and the surface reaction current decreases. There is a capacity-rate tradeoff with the change in V/Ni content. Alloys with relatively lower Ni-content show higher capacities but inferior high-rate performance compared to commercially available AB₅ MH alloy. Increasing the Ni-content in this BCC-based multi-phase alloy can improve the high-rate capability over AB₅ alloy but with lower discharge capacities. The inferior surface reaction current in these alloys, compared to AB₅, may be due to the smaller surface area, not the total volume, of the Ni clusters embedded in the surface oxide layer of the activated alloys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

579 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Power Quality Issues of a Battery Fast Charging Station for a Fully-Electric Public Transport System in Gothenburg City

by Torbjörn Thiringer and Saeid Haghbin

Batteries 2015, 1(1), 22-33; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries1010022 - 05 Nov 2015

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 8449

Abstract

An automatic fast charger station with a power level of 120 kW is developed for city Bus Line 60 in Gothenburg, Sweden. There are some power quality issues towards the utility grid during the charger operation. The aim of this paper is to [...] Read more.

An automatic fast charger station with a power level of 120 kW is developed for city Bus Line 60 in Gothenburg, Sweden. There are some power quality issues towards the utility grid during the charger operation. The aim of this paper is to explain the project and to present the measurement results with respect to power quality issues. The main specifications of the battery, charger, charging infrastructure and bus route are explained. The measurement results show that the harmonic emission is within the prescribed limit despite the high amount of low-frequency harmonics because of a passive diode rectification. It is suggested to replace the passive diode rectifier with an active front-end converter to eliminate low order current harmonics and to obtain a unity power factor operation. The main contribution of this work is to demonstrate a practical example of an electric charging system for an electric public transport system in Gothenburg. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rechargeable Battery Technologies--From Materials to Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

815 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Charge-Storage Process of Stoichiometric and Nanostructured Ruthenium Nitride Thin Films

by Davide Rosestolato, Giancarlo Battaglin and Sergio Ferro

Batteries 2015, 1(1), 11-21; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries1010011 - 29 Oct 2015

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 6610

Abstract

Ti-supported RuN thin films, synthesized by rf-magnetron sputtering, have been electrochemically characterized, focusing in particular to their charge-storage capacity, and to the mechanisms that influence this important property, in view, e.g., of applications in supercapacitors. Based on cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance [...] Read more.

Ti-supported RuN thin films, synthesized by rf-magnetron sputtering, have been electrochemically characterized, focusing in particular to their charge-storage capacity, and to the mechanisms that influence this important property, in view, e.g., of applications in supercapacitors. Based on cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data, a deconvolution of non-faradic and faradic contributions has been attempted, and a mechanism for the charging/discharging process has been proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rechargeable Battery Technologies--From Materials to Applications)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

636 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Cu Substitution for Sn on the Electrochemical Performance of La_0.7Mg_0.3Al_0.3Mn_0.4Sn_0.5₋_xCu_xNi_3.8 (x = 0–0.5) Alloys for Ni-MH Batteries

by Julio Cesar Serafim Casini, Zaiping Guo, Hua Kun Liu, Rubens Nunes Faria and Hidetoshi Takiishi

Batteries 2015, 1(1), 3-10; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries1010003 - 11 Sep 2015

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5217

Abstract

The effects of substitution of Cu for Sn on the electrochemical discharge capacity performance of La_0.7Mg_0.3Al_0.3Mn_0.4Sn_0.5_−xCu_xNi_3.8 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5) negative electrode alloys [...] Read more.

The effects of substitution of Cu for Sn on the electrochemical discharge capacity performance of La_0.7Mg_0.3Al_0.3Mn_0.4Sn_0.5_−xCu_xNi_3.8 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5) negative electrode alloys were investigated. Results indicate that increasing Cu content enhanced electrochemical behavior by increasing the maximum discharge capacity from 239.8 mA·h/g (x = 0) to 305.2 mA·h/g (x = 0.5), the discharge capacity retention at the 100th cycle from 78.0% (x = 0) to 81.8% (x = 0.5), and the high rate dischargeability (HRD) from 25.7% (x = 0) to 80.6% (x = 0.5). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rechargeable Battery Technologies--From Materials to Applications)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

608 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Welcome to Batteries—A New Open Access Journal on Battery Technology and Systems

by Andreas Jossen

Batteries 2015, 1(1), 1-2; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries1010001 - 05 Feb 2015

Viewed by 7728

Abstract

Batteries are a key technology of the 21st century and even of the 20th century. The success of mobile communication devices, as cellular phones, tablet computers, digital still cameras, and laptop computers was strongly supported by the improvements of the energy storage technologies. [...] Read more.

Batteries are a key technology of the 21st century and even of the 20th century. The success of mobile communication devices, as cellular phones, tablet computers, digital still cameras, and laptop computers was strongly supported by the improvements of the energy storage technologies. In the 1980s only lead acid and nickel cadmium batteries were used in mobile applications. The development of more advanced technologies as nickel-metal hydride and Li-ion and there introduction into the market in 1990 and 1991 pushed the development of mobile devices. About 10 years later, the development of high power li-ion batteries pushed the development of cordless power tools and other new applications that were not possible with older battery technologies.[...] Full article

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Batteries, Volume 1, Issue 1 (December 2015) – 7 articles , Pages 1-90

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI