Hydrogen energy, economy and storage: Review and recommendation

There is an ever-growing demand for rechargeable batteries with reversible and efficient electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Rechargeable batteries cover applications in many fields, which include portable electronic consumer devices, electric vehicles, and large-scale electricity storage in smart or intelligent grids. The performance of rechargeable batteries depends essentially on the thermodynamics and kinetics of the electrochemical reactions involved in the components (i.e., the anode, cathode, electrolyte, and separator) of the cells. During the past decade, extensive efforts have been dedicated to developing advanced batteries with large capacity, high energy and power density, high safety, long cycle life, fast response, and low cost. Here, recent progress in functional materials applied in the currently prevailing rechargeable lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride, lead acid, vanadium redox flow, and sodium-sulfur batteries is reviewed. The focus is on research activities toward the ionic, atomic, or molecular diffusion and transport; electron transfer; surface/interface structure optimization; the regulation of the electrochemical reactions; and the key materials and devices for rechargeable batteries.

Functional Materials for Rechargeable Batteries

Hydrogen storage alloys are of particular interest as a novel group in functional materials owing to their potential and practical applications in Ni/MH rechargeable batteries. This review is devoted to the specific alloy families developed for high-energy and high-power Ni/MH batteries in the last decades, especially for EV, HEV and PHEV applications. The scope of the work encompasses principles of Ni/MH batteries, electrochemical hydrogen storage thermodynamics and kinetics, prerequisites for hydrogen storage electrode alloys and recent advances in hydrogen storage electrode alloys. Rare earth AB5-type alloys, Ti- and Zr-based AB2-type alloys, Mg-based amorphous/nanocrystalline alloys, rare earth-Mg–Ni-based alloys and Ti–V-based alloys are highlighted. Additionally, the challenges met in developing advanced hydrogen storage alloys for Ni/MH rechargeable batteries are pointed out and some research directions are suggested.

Advanced hydrogen storage alloys for Ni/MH rechargeable batteries

Rare earth–Mg–Ni-based hydrogen storage alloys as negative electrode materials for Ni/MH batteries

Progress of hydrogen storage alloys for Ni-MH rechargeable power batteries in electric vehicles: A review

Annealing effects on structural and electrochemical properties of (LaPrNdZr)0.83Mg0.17(NiCoAlMn)3.3 alloy

The correlation of C14/C15 phase abundance and electrochemical properties in the AB2 alloys

The role of Mn in C14 Laves phase multi-component alloys for NiMH battery application

Phase abundances in AB2 metal hydride alloys and their correlations to various properties

Effects of Mo additive on the structure and electrochemical properties of low-temperature AB5 metal hydride alloys

T. Ouchi

Papers

Annealing effects on structural and electrochemical properties of (LaPrNdZr)0.83Mg0.17(NiCoAlMn)3.3 alloy

The correlation of C14/C15 phase abundance and electrochemical properties in the AB2 alloys

The role of Mn in C14 Laves phase multi-component alloys for NiMH battery application

Phase abundances in AB2 metal hydride alloys and their correlations to various properties

Effects of Mo additive on the structure and electrochemical properties of low-temperature AB5 metal hydride alloys