Electrochemical properties of Ti₄₉Zr₂₆Ni_25-xPd_x (x = 0-6) quasicrystal electrodes produced by mechanical alloying

Abstract Elemental powders consisted of chemical composition of Ti₄₉Zr₂₆Ni_25-xPd_x (x = 0, 1, 3, 6) were mechanically alloyed and annealed subsequently, and the discharge performance of the electrodes was measured by a three-electrode cell at room temperature. The annealing after mechanical alloying caused a formation of the icosahedral quasicrystal phase with a Ti₂Ni type crystal, C14 Laves and α-Ti/Zr phases. The quasilattice constant increased with increasing amount of Pd substituted for Ni up to 3 at.% due to difference in atomic radius between Pd and Ni. The maximum discharge capacity achieved was about 220 mA h/g from a (Ti₄₉Zr₂₆Ni₂₂Pd₃) electrode at the first discharge process.