Patent ID: 6268084
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
A hydrogen-absorbing alloy comprising 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 CaCu.sub.5 type crystal structure) and a second phase having a rhombohedral crystal system, an areal ratio of said at least one kind of phase of said hydrogen-absorbing alloy being 50% or more, said hydrogen-absorbing alloy having a composition represented by the following general formula (1):R.sub.1-a-b Mg.sub.a T.sub.b Ni.sub.Z-X-Y-.alpha. M1.sub.X M2.sub.Y Mn.sub..alpha. (1)wherein R is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements, 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, .alpha. and Z are respectively a number satisfying the conditions of: 0.15.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.37, 0.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.0.3, 0.ltoreq.X.ltoreq.1.3, 0.ltoreq.Y.ltoreq.0.5, 0.ltoreq..alpha.<0.135, and 3.0.ltoreq.Z.ltoreq.4.2.