Claims
- 1. A hydrogen-absorbing alloy comprising, as a principal phase, at least one kind of phase selected from the group consisting of a first phase having a hexagonal crystal system (excluding a phase having a CaCu5 type crystal structure) and a second phase having a rhombohedral crystal system, said hydrogen-absorbing alloy having a composition represented by the following general formula (1):
- 2. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy according to claim 1, wherein said first phase is constituted by a phase having Ce2Ni7 type crystal structure, a phase having CeNi3 type crystal structure and a phase having a crystal structure which is similar to Ce2Ni7 or CeNi3 type structure.
- 3. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy according to claim 1, wherein said second phase is constituted by a phase having Gd2Co7 type crystal structure, a phase having PuNi3 type crystal structure and a phase having a crystal structure which is similar to Gd2Co7 or PuNi3 type structure.
- 4. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy according to claim 1, wherein the atomic ratios of a, X, Y and Z are respectively selected to satisfy the conditions of: 0.15≦a≦0.35, 0≦X≦0.3, 0≦Y≦0.3, and 2.5≦Z≦4.
- 5. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy according to claim 1, wherein the areal ratio of said principal phase is 50% or more.
- 6. A secondary battery which comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode comprising a hydrogen-absorbing alloy, and an alkaline electrolyte;
wherein said hydrogen-absorbing alloy comprises, as a principal phase, at least one kind of phase selected from the group consisting of a first phase having a hexagonal crystal system (excluding a phase having a CaCu5 type crystal structure) and a second phase having a rhombohedral crystal system; and said hydrogen-absorbing alloy has a composition represented by the following general formula (1): R1-a-bMgaTbNiZ-X-Y-αM1XM2YMnα (1) wherein R is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements (which include Y); T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ti, Zr and Hf; M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co and Fe; M2 is at least one element selected from'the group consisting of Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, Cu, Si, B, Nb, W, Mo, V, Cr, Ta, Li, P and S; and the atomic ratios of a, b, X, Y, a and Z are respectively a number satisfying the conditions of: 0.15≦a≦0.37, 0≦b≦0.3, 0≦X≦1.3, 0≦Y≦0.5, 0≦α<0.135, and 2.5≦Z≦4.2.
- 7. A hybrid car comprising an electric driving means, and a power source for said electric driving means;
wherein said power source comprises a secondary battery which comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen-absorbing alloy, and an alkaline electrolyte; and wherein said hydrogen-absorbing alloy comprises, as a principal phase, at least one kind of phase selected from the group consisting of a first phase having a hexagonal crystal system (excluding a phase having a CaCu5 type crystal structure) and a second phase having a rhombohedral crystal system; and said hydrogen-absorbing alloy has a composition represented by the following general formula (1): R1-a-bMgaTbNiZ-X-Y-αM1XM2YMnα (1) wherein R is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements (which include Y); T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ti, Zr and Hf; M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co and Fe; M2 is at least one element selected from'the group consisting of Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, Cu, Si, B, Nb, W, Ho, V, Cr, Ta, Li, P and S; and the atomic ratios of a, b, X, Y, α and Z are respectively a number satisfying the conditions of: 0.15≦a≦0.37, 0≦b≦0.3, 0≦X≦1.3, 0≦Y≦0.5, 0≦α≦0.135, and 2.5≦Z≦4.2.
- 8. An electromobile comprising a secondary battery as a driving power source;
wherein said secondary battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen-absorbing alloy, and an alkaline electrolyte; and wherein said hydrogen-absorbing alloy comprises, as a principal phase, at least one kind of phase selected from the group consisting of a first phase having a hexagonal crystal system (excluding a phase having a CaCu5 type crystal structure) and a second phase having a rhombohedral crystal system; and said hydrogen-absorbing alloy has a composition represented by the following general formula (1): R1-a-bMgaTbNiZ-X-Y-αM1XM2YMnα (1) wherein R is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements (which include Y); T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ti, Zr and Hf; M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co and Fe; M2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, Cu, Si, B, Nb; W, Mo, V, Cr, Ta, Li, P and S; and the atomic ratios of a, b, X, Y, α and Z are respectively a number satisfying the conditions of: 0.15≦a≦0.37, 0≦b≦0.3, 0≦X≦1.3, 0≦Y≦0.5, 0≦α≦0.135, and 2.5≦Z≦4.2.
- 9. A hydrogen-absorbing alloy exhibiting less than 0.15 (including 0) in intensity ratio to be calculated according to the following formula (2) and having a composition represented by the following general formula (3):
- 10. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy according to claim 9, wherein said “a” and X are respectively satisfy the conditions of: 0.15≦a≦0.35, and 0≦X≦0.5.
- 11. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy according to claim 9, wherein said R includes La, and the content of La is 60 at % or more.
- 12. A secondary battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen-absorbing alloy, and an alkaline electrolyte;
wherein said hydrogen-absorbing alloy exhibits less than 0.15 (including 0) in intensity ratio to be calculated according to the aforementioned formula (2) and has a composition represented by the following general formula (3): I1/I2 (2) wherein I2 is an intensity of a peak exhibiting a highest intensity in an X-ray diffraction using CuKα-ray; and I1 is an intensity of a peak exhibiting a highest intensity within 2θ of 8 to 13°, θ being Bragg angle, in the X-ray diffraction; R1-a-bMgaTbNiZ-XM3X (3) wherein R is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements (which include Y); T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ti, Zr and Hf; M3 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn, Fe, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, Cu, Si, B, Nb, W, Mo, V, Cr, Ta, Li, P and S; and the atomic ratios of a, b; X and Z are respectively a number satisfying the conditions of: 0.1≦a≦0.6, 0≦b≦0.3, 0≦X≦2, and 2.5≦Z≦4.
- 13. A hybrid car comprising an electric driving means, and a power source for said electric driving means;
wherein said power source comprises a secondary battery which comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen-absorbing alloy, and an alkaline electrolyte; and wherein said hydrogen-absorbing alloy exhibits less than 0.15 (including 0) in intensity ratio to be calculated according to the aforementioned formula (2) and has a composition represented by the following general formula (3): I1/I2 (2) wherein I2 is an intensity of a peak exhibiting a highest intensity in an X-ray diffraction using CuKα-ray; and I1 is an intensity of a peak exhibiting a highest intensity within 20 of 8 to 13°, θ being Bragg angel, in the X-ray diffraction; R1-a-bMgaTbNiZ-XM3X (3) wherein R is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements (which include Y); T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ti, Zr and Hf; M3 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn, Fe, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, Cu, Si, B, Nb, W, Mo, V, Cr, Ta, Li, P and S; and the atomic ratios of a, b, X and Z are respectively a number satisfying the conditions of: 0.1≦a≦0.6, 0≦b≦0.3, 0≦X≦2, and 2.5≦Z≦4.
- 14. An electromobile comprising a secondary battery as a driving power source;
wherein said secondary battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen-absorbing alloy, and an alkaline electrolyte; and wherein said hydrogen-absorbing alloy exhibits less than 0.15 (including 0) in intensity ratio to be calculated according to the aforementioned formula (2) and has a composition represented by the following general formula (3): I1/I2 (2) wherein I2 is an intensity of a peak exhibiting a highest intensity in an X-ray diffraction using CuKα-ray; and I1 is an intensity of a peak exhibiting a highest intensity within 2θ of 8 to 13°, θ being Bragg angle, in the X-ray diffraction; R1-a-bMgaTbNiZ-XM3X (3) wherein R is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements (which include Y); T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ti, Zr and Hf; M3 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn, Fe, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, Cu, Si, B, Nb, W, Mo, V, Cr, Ta, Li, P and S; and the atomic ratios of a, b, X and Z are respectively a number satisfying the conditions of: 0.1≦a≦0.6, 0≦b≦0.3, 0≦X≦2, and 2.5≦Z≦4.
- 15. A hydrogen-absorbing alloy having a composition represented by the following general formula (4):
- 16. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy according to claim 15, wherein said hydrogen-absorbing alloy includes, as a principal phase, at least one kind of phase selected from the group consisting of a first phase having a hexagonal crystal system (excluding a phase having a CaCu5 type crystal structure) and a second phase having a rhombohedral crystal system.
- 17. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy according to claim 15, wherein said R includes La, and the content of La is 60 at % or more.
- 18. A secondary battery which comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode comprising a hydrogen-absorbing alloy, and an alkaline electrolyte;
wherein said hydrogen-absorbing alloy has a composition represented by the following general formula (4): R1-aMgaNiZ-X-YAlXCoYM4α (4) wherein R is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements (which include Y) with a proviso that the content of Ce in said R is less than 20% by weight (including 0% by weight); M4 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, Cu, Si, B, Nb, W, Ti, Zr, In, Mo, V, Cr, P and S; and the atomic ratios of a, X, Y, Z and a are respectively a number satisfying the conditions of: 0.15≦a≦0.33, 0.06≦X≦0.15, 0≦Y≦0.2, 3.15<Z≦3.55, and 0≦α<0.135.
- 19. A hybrid car comprising an electric driving means, and a power source for said electric driving means;
wherein said power source comprises a secondary battery which comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen-absorbing alloy, and an alkaline electrolyte; and wherein said hydrogen-absorbing alloy has a composition represented by the following general formula (4): R1-aMgaNiZ-X-YAlXCoYM4α (4) wherein R is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements (which include Y) with a proviso that the content of Ce in said R is less than 20% by weight (including 0% by weight); M4 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, Cu, Si, B, Nb, W, Ti, Zr, In, Mo, V, Cr, P and S; and the atomic ratios of a, X, Y, Z and α are respectively a number satisfying the conditions of: 0.15≦a≦0.33, 0.06≦X≦0.15, 0≦Y≦0.2, 3.15<Z≦3.55, and 0≦α<0.135.
- 20. An electromobile comprising a secondary battery as a driving power source;
wherein said secondary battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen-absorbing alloy, and an alkaline electrolyte; and wherein said hydrogen-absorbing alloy has a composition represented by the following general formula (4): R1-aMgaNiZ-X-YAlXCoYM4α (4) wherein R is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements (which include Y) with a proviso that the content of Ce in said R is less than 20% by weight (including 0% by weight); M4 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, Cu, Si, B, Nb, W, Ti, Zr, In, Mo, V, Cr, P and S; and the atomic ratios of a, X, Y, Z and α are respectively a number satisfying the conditions of: 0.15≦a≦0.33, 0.06≦X≦0.15, 0≦Y≦0.2, 3.15<Z≦3.55, and 0≦α<0.135.
Priority Claims (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
9-329213 |
Nov 1997 |
JP |
|
9-329214 |
Nov 1997 |
JP |
|
9-329216 |
Nov 1997 |
JP |
|
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a Continuation-in-Part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/200,464, filed Nov. 27, 1998, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09475037 |
Dec 1999 |
US |
Child |
09871941 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09200464 |
Nov 1998 |
US |
Child |
09871941 |
Jun 2001 |
US |