IP Library Granted Patent US 7,943,255
Granted Patent B2
US 7,943,255 · App. 11/546,336 · Granted May 17, 2011

Hydrogen-absorption alloy electrode

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,943,255
App. No.
11/546,336
Granted
May 17, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of manufacturing a hydrogen-absorption alloy electrode which comprises particles of a hydrogen-absorption alloy that comprises a rare earth element, Ni, Co and Al. The method comprises subjecting the hydrogen-absorption alloy particles to an alkaline treatment in a 10 to 50 weight % NaOH solution at 60 to 140° C. for 0.5 to 5 hours such that on the surface of the particles (amount of Al on surface/amount of Al in alloy)<(amount of Co on surface/amount of Co in alloy).

Claims (6)

1. A method of manufacturing a hydrogen-absorption alloy electrode which comprises particles of a hydrogen-absorption alloy that comprises a rare earth element, Ni, and Co, wherein the method comprises providing particles having a size distribution such that d90/d10≦8 and d90−d10≦50 μm, where di (where i varies from 0 to 100) means a particle size at which a cumulative size frequency with respect to the entire particles is 1%, and subjecting the particles to an alkaline treatment in a NaOH solution under a boiling condition for 0.5 hours or longer, and wherein the hydrogen-absorption alloy further comprises Al and the particles are subjected to the alkaline treatment such that on a surface of the particles (amount of Al on surface/amount of Al in alloy)<(amount of Co on surface/amount of Co in alloy).

2. A method of manufacturing a hydrogen-absorption alloy electrode which comprises particles of a hydrogen-absorption alloy that comprises a rare earth element, Ni, and Co, wherein the method comprises providing particles having a size distribution such that d90/d10≦8 and d90−d10≦50 μm, where di (where i varies from 0 to 100) means a particle size at which a cumulative size frequency with respect to the entire particles is 1%, and subjecting the particles to an alkaline treatment in a NaOH solution under a boiling condition for 0.5 hours or longer, and wherein the hydrogen-absorption alloy further comprises Mn and the particles are subjected to the alkaline treatment such that on a surface of the particles (amount of Mn on surface/amount of Mn in alloy)<(amount of Co on surface/amount of Co in alloy).

3. A method of manufacturing a hydrogen-absorption alloy electrode which comprises particles of a hydrogen-absorption alloy that comprises a rare earth element, Ni, and Co, wherein the method comprises providing particles having a size distribution such that d90/d10≦8 and d90−d10≦50 μm, where di (where i varies from 0 to 100) means a particle size at which a cumulative size frequency with respect to the entire particles is 1%, and subjecting the particles to an alkaline treatment in a NaOH solution under a boiling condition for 0.5 hours or longer, and wherein the hydrogen-absorption alloy further comprises Al and Mn and the particles are subjected to the alkaline treatment such that on a surface of the particles (amount of Al+Mn on surface/amount of Al+Mn in alloy)<(amount of Co on surface/amount of Co in alloy).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particles are subjected to the alkaline treatment until the particles corrode to a depth of about 0.4 μm.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the particles are subjected to the alkaline treatment until the particles corrode to a depth of about 0.4 μm.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the particles are subjected to the alkaline treatment until the particles corrode to a depth of about 0.4 μm.