Abstract:
This invention provides a hydrogen occluding alloy having a composition comprising, by wt %, 25% to 45% of Zr, 1% to 12% of Ti, 10% to 20% of Mn, 2% to 12% of V, 0.5% to 5% of at least one rare earth element, optionally 0.1% to 4% of Hf, one or more selected from hydrogen, hydrogen+oxygen, and oxygen, and a balance being Ni (25% or more of Ni) and unavoidable impurities, having a structure comprising: a phase made of a hydrogenated-product, dispersedly distributed in a matrix phase made of a Zr--Ni--Mn based alloy. The hydrogenated-product mainly comprises a rare earth element-Ni type alloy and a rare earth element hydride with numerous cracks formed at the time when the hydrogenated-product phase is generated. The hydrogenated-product phase is formed by exposing a hydrogen-containing substance on the surfaces of the cracks. Electrodes made of the alloy are disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a hydrogen occluding alloy exhibiting significant high hydrogen absorption and desorption rates and excellent initial activation during practical use, for example, as electrodes of batteries. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hitherto, a variety of hydrogen occluding alloys have been suggested, as exemplified by a hydrogen occluding alloy disclosed recently in &#34;INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM REGARDING THE FOUNDATION AND APPLICATION OF METAL-HYDROGEN SYSTEMS&#34;, held on Nov. 6 to 11, 1994, in Fujiyoshida, Japan. 
     The foregoing hydrogen occluding alloy is a Ni--Zr type alloy having a composition according to the formula: 
     Ti 0 .5-x/2 Zr 0 .5-x/2 La x  Mn 0 .8 Cr 0 .8 Ni 0 .4, in which x=0.0-0.1. Such alloys have a two-phase structure comprising a main phase made of a Zr--Ni--Mn based alloy and a phase made of a La--Ni type alloy which is dispersively distributed along the grain boundary of the main phase, as illustrated in an enlarged schematic view of the structure in FIG. 13. 
     In the foregoing conventional hydrogen occluding alloy, the phase made of the La--Ni type alloy dissociates atmospheric hydrogen molecules (H 2 ) to form hydrogen atoms (H) by its catalytic action, and absorbs the dissociated hydrogen atoms at a rate higher than that of the main phase made of the Zx--Ni--Mn type alloy; thus the absorption of the hydrogen atoms in the main phase made of the Zr--Ni--Mn type alloy is carried out mainly through the phase made of the La--Ni type alloy; and the hydrogen desorption is carried out by a function contrary to the foregoing function. 
     In addition, the foregoing conventional hydrogen occluding alloy can be made by preparing a Ni--Zr based liquid alloy having the foregoing composition, casting it into an ingot, and annealing the ingot for homogenization at a predetermined temperature within the range from 950° to 1,050° C. for a predetermined time in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, such as vacuum or inert gas. 
     In general, when the hydrogen occluding alloy is applied to an electrode of a battery, the battery can serve a practical use after an initial activation treatment in which charge/discharge cycles are repeated until the electrode including the hydrogen occluding alloy has a sufficient discharge capacity, in other words, until the discharge capacity caused by the hydrogen occluding alloy reaches near its maximum. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Meanwhile, there recently has been a great demand for large output, good performance, and energy saving with respect to batteries and heat pumps to which the hydrogen occluding alloy is widely applied. Therefore, there is a need for a hydrogen occluding alloy which has higher hydrogen absorption/desorption rates and a shorter initial-activation time as compared with conventional hydrogen occluding alloys. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the above viewpoint, the inventors of the present invention hereby provide hydrogen occluding alloys having improved hydrogen absorption/desorption rates and initial activation according to the following descriptions (a1, a2, a3) and (b1, b2, b3): 
     (a1) A hydrogen occluding alloy comprising (all percentages herein, unless specified otherwise, are weight percentages): 
     25% to 45% of Zr, 1% to 12% of Ti, 
     10% to 20% of Mn, 2% to 12% of V, 
     0.5 to 5% of at least one rare earth element, preferably comprising La and/or Ce, preferably consisting of 50% or more of La and/or Ce, and more preferably, consisting essentially of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 4% of Hf, 
     preferably, 
     25% to 40% of Zr, 4% to 12% of Ti, 
     10% to 20% of Mn, 2% to 8% of V, 
     0.5% to 5% of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 2% of Hf, 
     more preferably, 
     30% to 37% of Zr, 5% to 10% of Ti, 
     14% to 18% of Mn, 3% to 6% of V, 
     2% to 4% of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 1% to 1.7% of Hf, 
     and the balance being Ni (25% or more of Ni) and unavoidable impurities is obtained by mixing and melting Ni, Zr, Ti, Mn, V and rare earth (and optionally Hf) and casting to obtain ingots. By a subsequent homogenizing heat treatment at a temperature within the range of from 900° C. to 1100° C., for a period of not less than 1 hour, the ingots are provided with a structure including a dispersed phase made of a rare earth element-Ni type alloy existing along the grain boundary of the matrix phase made of a Zr--Ni--Mn based alloy. Further, following the foregoing homogenizing heat treatment, hydrogenation is carried out by heating in a hydrogen atmosphere in the range of from 400° C. to 900° C. for a period of not less than 30 minutes in a pressurized hydrogen atmosphere in the range of from 1 to 11 atm., followed by cooling. The cooling step should be conducted quickly enough that the ingot reaches a temperature of 200° C. or less within 10 hours (quenching can be used). As a result, the dispersed phase made of a rare earth element-Ni type alloy preferentially reacts with the atmospheric hydrogen and changes to a phase made of a hydrogenated-product mainly comprising a hydride of a rare earth element (hereinafter referred to as a rare earth element hydride) and a rare earth element-Ni type alloy, as illustrated in an enlarged schematic view of the structure shown in FIG. 1, 3. Since the phase made of a hydrogenated-product 13 exhibits larger thermal expansion as compared with the matrix phase 11 made of the Zx--Ni--Mn based alloy, numerous cracks 12 starting from the phase made of a hydrogenated-product are formed in the matrix phase such that the phase made of a hydrogenated-product is exposed on the surfaces of the cracks. 
     (a2) A hydrogen occluding alloy comprising 
     25% to 45% of Zr, 1% to 12% of Ti, 
     10% to 20% of Mn, 2% to 12% of V, 
     0.5 to 5% of at least one rare earth element, preferably comprising La and/or Ce, preferably consisting of 50% or more of La and/or Ce, and more preferably, consisting essentially of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 4% of Hf, 
     preferably, 
     25% to 40% of Zr, 4% to 12% of Ti, 
     10% to 20% of Mn, 2% to 8% of V, 
     0.5% to 5% of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 2% of Hf, 
     more preferably, 
     30% to 37% of Zr, 5% to 10% of Ti, 
     14% to 18% of Mn, 3% to 6% of V, 
     2% to 4% of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 1% to 1.7% of Hf, 
     the balance being Ni (25% or more of Ni) and unavoidable impurities is obtained by mixing and melting Ni, Zr, Ti, Mn, V and rare earth (and optionally Hf) and casting to obtain ingots. By a subsequent homogenizing heat treatment under the same conditions as the (a1), the alloy ingots are provided with a structure including a dispersed phase made of a rare earth element-Ni type alloy existing along the grain boundary of the matrix phase made of a Zx--Ni--Mn based alloy. Further, following the foregoing homogenizing heat treatment, hydrogenation is carried out by heating in a hydrogen atmosphere in the range of from 400° C. to 900° C. for a period of not less than 30 minutes, in a pressurized hydrogen atmosphere in the range of from 1 to 11 atm., followed by cooling. The cooling step should be conducted quickly enough that the ingot reaches a temperature of 200° C. or less within 10 hours (as mentioned above, quenching can be used). As a result, the dispersed phase made of a rare earth element-Ni type alloy preferentially reacts with the atmospheric hydrogen and changes to a phase made of a hydrogenated-product mainly comprising a hydride of a rare earth element (hereinafter referred to as a rare earth element hydride) and a rare earth element-Ni type alloy, as illustrated in an enlarged schematic view of the structure shown in FIG. 1, 3. Since the phase made of a hydrogenated-product exhibits larger thermal expansion as compared with the matrix phase made of the Zr--Ni--Mn based alloy, numerous cracks starting from the phase made of a hydrogenated-product are formed in the matrix phase such that the phase made of a hydrogenated-product is exposed on the surfaces of the cracks. By a succeeding oxidation treatment of, for example, immersing in an alkaline aqueous solution, such as KOH or NaOH aqueous solution, for a period of time in the range of from 1 minute to 1 hour, the foregoing rare earth element hydride changes to a rare earth element hydroxide. As a result, the Ni--Zr--Mn based alloy exhibits a structure comprising a hydrogenated-product phase 15 comprising rare earth element-Ni type alloy and rare earth element hydroxide, dispersedly distributed in a matrix phase 11 made of a Zx--Ni--Mn based alloy, and mainly comprising a rare earth element hydroxide and a rare earth element-Ni type alloy; and numerous cracks 12, wherein the hydrogenated-product phase is exposed on the surfaces of the cracks, as illustrated in an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure shown in FIG. 5, 7. 
     (a3) A hydrogen occluding alloy comprising (all percentages herein, unless specified otherwise, are weight percentages): 
     25% to 45% of Zr, 1% to 12% of Ti, 
     10% to 20% of Mn, 2% to 12% of V, 
     0.5 to 5% of at least one rare earth element, preferably comprising La and/or Ce, preferably consisting of 50% or more of La and/or Ce, and more preferably, consisting essentially of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 4% of Hf, 
     preferably, 
     25% to 40% of Zr, 4% to 12% of Ti, 
     10% to 20% of Mn, 2% to 8% of V, 
     0.5% to 5% of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 2% of Hf, 
     more preferably, 
     30% to 37% of Zr, 5%to 10% of Ti, 
     14% to 18% of Mn, 3% to 6% of V, 
     2% to 4% of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 1% to 1.7% of Hf, 
     at least 25% of Ni, and the balance being unavoidable impurities; and homogenizing the Ni-based alloy ingot under the same conditions as in (a1) and (a2), this alloy has a structure in which a dispersion phase made of a rare earth element-Ni type alloy is distributed along the grain boundary of a matrix phase made of the Zr--Ni--Mn based alloy, as in (a1) and (a2). In addition, by hydrogenation of the ingot after the homogenization at a predetermined temperature within the range from 400° to 900° C. for a period of not less than 30 minutes in a pressurized hydrogen atmosphere in the range of from 1 to 11 atm., followed by cooling (the cooling step should be conducted quickly enough that the ingot reaches a temperature of 200° C. or less within 10 hours) the dispersion phase made of the rare earth element-Ni type alloy predominantly reacts with the atmospheric hydrogen to obtain a hydrogenated-product phase mainly including rare earth element hydride and rare earth element-Ni type alloy. Since the hydrogenated-product phase shows a greater thermal expansion compared with the matrix phase made of the Zx--Ni--Mn based alloy, numerous cracks which start from the hydrogenated-product phase form in the matrix phase such that the hydrogenated-product phase is exposed on the face of the cracks. Moreover, by oxidizing the alloy in an oxidizing atmosphere (e.g., a suitable oxidizing atmosphere is air at a pressure of about 1 atm.) at a temperature ranging from 400° to 500° C., rare earth element hydride is oxidized to rare earth element oxide. As a result, the Ni based alloy has a structure in which a hydrogenated-product phase 16 comprising rare earth element-Ni type alloy and rare earth element oxide is dispersively distributed in the matrix phase 11 made of the Zr--Ni--Mn based alloy, the hydrogenated-product phase mainly comprises the rare earth element-Ni type alloy and the rare earth element oxide, numerous cracks 12 exist, and the hydrogenated-product phase is exposed on the surface of the cracks, as shown in an enlarged schematic view of the structure in FIG. 9, 11. 
     (b1) The Ni--Zr--Mn based alloy described in (a1) comprises a phase made of a hydrogenated-product including a rare earth element-Ni type alloy and rare earth element hydride. The rare earth element-Ni type alloy dissociates the hydrogen atoms (H) from the atmospheric hydrogen molecules (H 2 ) by the catalytic function thereof and absorbs the dissociated hydrogen atoms at a higher rate as compared with the matrix phase made of the Zx--Ni--Mn based alloy. Hydrogen desorption proceeds according to a function contrary to the foregoing function. The effective area of the foregoing Ni--Zr--Mn based alloy increases because most of the phase made of a hydrogenated-product is exposed on the surface of the numerous cracks. Together with the effect of the rare earth element hydride which enhances the diffusion of the absorbed hydrogen atoms and desorbed hydrogen atoms, absorption and desorption of the hydrogen atoms proceed at a higher rate as compared with the conventional hydrogen occluding alloy. Moreover, the hydrogen-atom absorption ratio of the foregoing matrix phase at the initial activation increases on a large scale because the absorption proceeds through a larger effective area, thus significantly promoting the initial activation. 
     (b2) The Ni--Zr--Mn based alloy described in (a2) comprises a hydrogenated-product phase comprising rare earth element-Ni type alloy and rare earth element hydroxide. A rare earth element-Ni type alloy and a rare earth element hydroxide constitute the hydrogenated-product phase and dissociate the hydrogen atoms (H) from the atmospheric hydrogen molecules (H 2 ) by the catalytic function thereof and absorb the dissociated hydrogen atoms at a higher rate as compared with the matrix phase made of the Zr--Ni--Mn based alloy. Hydrogen desorption proceeds according to a function contrary to the foregoing function. The effective area of the foregoing Ni--Zr--Mn based alloy increases because most of the hydrogenated-product phase is exposed on the surface of the numerous cracks. Thus, absorption and desorption of the hydrogen atoms proceed at a higher rate as compared with the conventional hydrogen occluding alloy. Moreover, the hydrogen-atom absorption ratio of the foregoing matrix phase at the initial activation increases on a large scale because the absorption proceeds through a larger effective area, thereby significantly promoting the initial activation. 
     (b3) In the Ni--Zr--Mn based alloy described in (a3), the rare earth element-Ni type alloy and the rare earth element oxide in the hydrogenated-product phase, as one component, catalytically dissociates atmospheric hydrogen molecules (H 2 ) to form hydrogen atoms (H), and absorbs the dissociated hydrogen atoms at a higher rate as compared with the matrix phase made of the Zx--Ni--Mn based alloy. The desorption is carried out by the function contrary to the foregoing function. Since much of the hydrogenated-product phase is exposed on the surface of the numerous cracks, the effective area significantly increases. Thus, the hydrogen absorption and desorption can be carried out at rates higher than those of the conventional hydrogen occluding alloy. Further, initial activation is significantly promoted because the absorption of hydrogen atoms at the initial activation is carried out through a large effective area of the matrix phase. 
     In accordance with the present invention as described in a1, a2, a3, b1, b2 and b3 above, the hydrogenation step can be conducted immediately after the homogenization step, with or without cooling. Alternatively, the hydrogenation step can be conducted any time after the homogenization step, i.e., with a time period between the two steps. For example, if desired, the ingot can be cooled e.g., to room temperature between the two steps, or the ingot can be transferred directly from the homogenization step to the hydrogenation step without cooling. 
     As used herein, as discussed above with respect to a1, a2, a3, b1, b2 and b3, the expression &#34;hydrogenated-product&#34; refers to the portion of the rare earth-Ni phase which was hydrogenated to produce rare earth element hydride, and which, optionally, at least some of which was later further converted to rare earth element hydroxide or to rare earth element oxide. 
     As mentioned above, the matrix phase of the alloys in accordance with the present invention as described above in a1, a2, a3, b1, b2 and b3 have numerous cracks. These cracks are generally of varying size, and the matrix phase has at least about 100 cracks having a major dimension which exceeds 0.1 micrometers per square millimeter. 
     The present invention was achieved based on the result of the foregoing study, and is characterized by a hydrogen occluding alloy exhibiting high hydrogen absorption and desorption rates and excellent initial activation. The hydrogen occluding alloy has a composition comprising: 
     25% to 45% of Zr, 1% to 12% of TI, 
     10% to 20% of Mn, 2% to 12% of V, 
     0.5% to 5% of at least one rare earth element, preferably comprising La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 4% of Hf, 0.01% to 0.2% of hydrogen, 
     preferably 
     25% to 40% of Zr, 4% to 12% of Ti, 
     10% to 20% of Mn, 2% to 8% of V, 
     0.5% to 5% of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 2% of Hf, 0.04% to 0.12% of hydrogen 
     and more preferably 
     30% to 37% of Zr, 5% to 10% of Ti, 
     14% to 18% of Mn, 3% to 6% of V, 
     2% to 4% of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 1% to 1.7% of Hf, 0.04% to 0.12% of hydrogen, and the balance being Ni (25% or more of Ni) and unavoidable impurities; 
     and has a structure comprising: 
     a phase made of a hydrogenated-product, dispersedly distributed in a matrix phase made of a Zx--Ni--Mn based alloy, and mainly comprising a rare earth element hydride and a rare earth element-Ni type alloy; 
     numerous cracks formed at the time when the phase made of a hydrogenated-product is generated, and 
     the phase made of a hydrogenated-product being exposed on the surfaces of the cracks. 
     The present invention was achieved based on the result of the foregoing study, and, in a second aspect, is characterized by a hydrogen occluding alloy exhibiting high hydrogen absorption/desorption rates and excellent initial activation. The hydrogen occluding alloy has a composition comprising: 
     25% to 45% of Zr, 1% to 12% of Ti, 
     10% to 20% of Mn, 2% to 12% of V, 
     0.5% to 5% of at least one rare earth element, preferably comprising La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 4% of Hf, 
     0.015% to 0.3% of hydrogen, 0.3% to 3.2% of oxygen, 
     preferably, 
     25% to 40% of Zr, 4% to 12% of Ti, 
     10% to 20% of Mn, 2% to 8% of V, 
     0.5% to 5% of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 2% of Hf, 
     0.05% to 0.15% of hydrogen, 0.6% to 1.7% of oxygen 
     and more preferably 
     30% to 37% of Zr, 5% to 10% of Ti, 
     14% to 18% of Mn, 3% to 6% of V, 
     2% to 4% of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 4% of Hf, 
     0.05% to 0.15% of hydrogen, 0.6% to 1.7% of oxygen and the balance being Ni (25% or more of Ni) and unavoidable impurities; 
     and has a structure comprising: 
     a hydrogenated-product phase, being dispersedly distributed in a matrix phase made of a Zx--Ni--Mn based alloy, and mainly comprising a rare earth element hydroxide and a rare earth element-Ni type alloy; 
     numerous cracks formed during the hydrogenation treatment, and the hydrogenated-product phase being exposed on the surfaces of the cracks. 
     The present invention was achieved based on the results set forth above, and, in a third aspect, is characterized by a hydrogen occluding alloy comprising: 
     25% to 45% of Zr, 1% to 12% of Ti, 
     10% to 20% of Mn, 2% to 12% of V, 
     0.5% to 5% of at least one rare earth element, preferably comprising La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 4% of Hf, 
     0.2% to 1.7% of oxygen, 
     preferably 
     25% to 40% of Zr, 4% to 12% of Ti, 
     10% to 20% of Mn, 2% to 8% of V, 
     0.5% to 5% of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 2% of Hf, 
     0.4% to 1.0% of oxygen 
     and more preferably 
     30% to 37% of Zr, 5% to 10% of Ti, 
     14% to 18% of Mn, 3% to 6% of V, 
     2% to 4% of La and/or Ce, 
     optionally 0.1% to 4% of Hf, 
     0.4% to 1.0% of oxygen, 
     at least 25% of Ni, and the balance being unavoidable impurities; 
     and has an alloy structure, wherein a hydrogenated-product phase is dispersively distributed in a matrix phase made of Zr--Ni--Mn based alloy, and the hydrogenated-product phase mainly comprises rare earth element oxide and rare earth element-Ni type alloy, numerous cracks having been produced during forming the hydrogenated-product phase, and the hydrogenated-product phase being exposed on the faces of the cracks. 
     The &#34;Ni--Zr type alloy&#34; is referred to herein as such because it may include small amounts of materials other than Ni and Zr, e.g., a suitable Ni--Zr type alloy may consist of 41.4-41.9% Zr, 48.8-50.4% Ni, and about 8% other ingredients. It is believed, based on electron-probe microanalysis, that the phase is essentially a Ni--Zr binary alloy or intermetallics phase. 
     &#34;Zr--Ni--Mn based alloy&#34; (or &#34;Zx--Ni--Mn type alloy&#34;) refers to an alloy whose approximate formula is (Zr, Ti)(Ni, Mn, V) 2 . 
     The reason the composition of the hydrogen occluding alloy according to the present invention is limited to the foregoing ranges will now be described. 
     (a) Zr 
     The Zr component has, as described above, the function of forming the matrix phase in association with Ni and Mn to increase the amount of the occluded hydrogen. When the Zr content is less than 25%, the desired amount of hydrogen cannot be occluded. Whereas, if the content exceeds 45%, the amount of hydrogen occluded by the overall alloy decreases. Therefore, the Zr content is determined to be 25% to 45%, preferably 25% to 40% and more preferably 30% to 37. 
     (b) Ti 
     The Ti component has a function of rendering the equilibrium pressure for dissociating hydrogen of the alloy to, for example, a level lower than the atmospheric pressure at room temperature so as to enhance the hydrogen absorption/desorption. Furthermore, the Ti component in the matrix phase increases the amount of occluded hydrogen. If the Ti content is less than 1%, the desired effect as set forth above cannot be achieved. Meanwhile when the content exceeds 12%, the equilibrium pressure for dissociating hydrogen is again raised to, for example, a level higher than the atmospheric pressure at room temperature. As a result, the hydrogen absorption/desorption decreases. Therefore, the Ti content is determined to be 1% to 12%, and preferably 4% to 12% and more preferably 5% to 10%. 
     (c) Mn 
     The Mn component has a function of mainly forming the matrix phase so as to increase the quantity of occluded hydrogen. When the Mn content is less than 10%, the desired effect cannot be obtained from the foregoing function. Meanwhile, an Mn content over 20% suppresses the hydrogen absorption/desorption capability. Therefore, the content is determined to be 10% to 20%, and preferably, 14% to 18%. 
     (d) V 
     The V component has a function of stabilizing the equilibrium pressure for dissociating hydrogen of the alloy and increasing the quantity of occluded hydrogen. If the V content is less than 2%, the desired effect set forth above cannot be achieved. Whereas if the content exceeds 12%, the equilibrium pressure for dissociating hydrogen is lowered excessively, thus causing difficulty in desorbing the occluded hydrogen. As a result, a decrease in the quantity of the occluded hydrogen cannot be prevented. Therefore, the content is determined to be 2% to 12%, and preferably 2% to 8% and more preferably 3% to 6%. 
     (e) Rare earth element(s) 
     This component is essential to form the rare earth element-Ni type alloy, which dissociates and absorbs the atmospheric hydrogen at a higher rate as compared with the matrix phase while recombining and desorbing hydrogen to the atmosphere, as described above, and to form the rare earth element hydride which enhances the diffusion of the absorbed hydrogen to the matrix phase and that of the desorbed hydrogen from the matrix phase. If the content is less than 0.5%, the production ratio of the rare earth element-Ni type alloy and the rare earth element hydride becomes too low to maintain the desired high hydrogen-absorption/desorption rates. Meanwhile, if the content exceeds 5%, the production ratio of the dispersed phase, that does not significantly occlude hydrogen, increases excessively, and the quantity of hydrogen that can be occluded in the overall alloy is reduced unsatisfactorily. Therefore, the content is determined to be 0.5% to 5% and preferably 2% to 4%. 
     In addition, to satisfactorily obtain the above function due to the rare earth element-Ni type alloy and the rare earth element hydride, it is preferred that the rare earth element comprise La and/or Ce, preferably consists of 50% or more of La and/or Ce, and more preferably, consists essentially of La and/or Ce. 
     (f) Hf 
     Together with the Zr content, the Hf content (Hf is optional), when present, forms the matrix phase made of a Zx--Ni--Mn based alloy so as to allow the Zr content to satisfactorily exhibit the above function. When the Hf content is less than 0.1%, the desired effect cannot be obtained, whereas if the content exceeds 4%, the above function of the Zr content is impaired. Therefore, when Hf is present, the content is determined to be 0.1% to 4%, preferably 0.1% to 2% and more preferably 1% to 1.7%. 
     (g) Hydrogen (when the dispersed phase comprises hydride of rare earth element and rare earth-Ni type alloy): 
     Hydrogen forms the rare earth element hydride which is a main component of the phase made of a hydrogenated-product. Hydrogen is dissociated and absorbed by the rare earth element-Ni type alloy, which is also a component of the hydrogenated-product, and thereby transferred into the matrix phase at a high diffusion rate while the desorbed hydrogen from the matrix phase is diffused to the rare earth element-Ni type alloy. If the hydrogen content is less than 0.01%, the ratio of the rare earth element hydride which exhibits the foregoing function decreases excessively, thus the desired effect cannot be obtained. Meanwhile, when the content exceeds 0.2%, the ratio of the rare earth element hydride increases excessively as compared with that of the rare earth element-Ni type alloy, and the quantity of the rare earth element-Ni type alloy is reduced relatively, resulting in a decrease in the hydrogen absorption/desorption rates and the initial activation. Therefore, the content is determined to be 0.01% to 0.2%, and preferably, 0.04% to 0.12%. 
     (h) Hydrogen and oxygen (when the dispersed phase comprises hydroxide of rare earth element and rare earth-Ni type alloy): 
     These components are essential to form the rare earth element hydroxide. Together with the rare earth- element-Ni type alloy mainly composing the hydrogenated-product phase, the rare earth element hydroxide dissociates the hydrogen atoms (H) from the atmospheric hydrogen molecules (H 2 ), absorbs them at a higher rate as compared with the matrix phase, and diffuses them to the matrix phase, and, during desorption, rapidly desorbing the diffused hydrogen atoms from the matrix phase by recombining them to form hydrogen molecules. If the hydrogen content is less than 0.015% and the oxygen content is less than 0.3%, the production ratio of the rare earth element hydroxide decreases excessively, thus the foregoing functional effect cannot be obtained satisfactorily. Whereas, if the hydrogen contents exceeds 0.3% and the oxygen content exceeds 3.2%, the production ratio of the rare earth element hydroxide increases relatively, resulting in a decrease in strength. Further, the alloy is easily rendered into a fine powder. Therefore, the contents are determined to be 0.015% to 0.3% for hydrogen and 0.3% to 3.2% for oxygen, and preferably, 0.05% to 0.15% for hydrogen and 0.6% to 1.7% for oxygen. 
     (i) oxygen (when the dispersed phase comprises oxide of rare earth element and rare earth-Ni type alloy): 
     oxygen, as well as the intermetallic compound made of the rare earth element-Ni type alloy, is an essential component for forming the rare earth element oxide which dissociates atmospheric hydrogen molecules (H 2 ) to hydrogen atoms (H), absorbs the hydrogen atoms, diffuses the absorbed hydrogen atoms at rates higher than those in the matrix phase, and recombines immediately hydrogen atoms diffused from the matrix phase to form hydrogen molecules. When the oxygen content is less than 0.2%, such effects cannot be satisfactorily achieved and cracks insufficiently form, because the amount of the rare earth element oxide formed is too small. On the other hand, when the content exceeds 1.7%, the rare earth element oxide content is relatively excessive, so the strength decreases and the powder is readily fined. Therefore, the oxygen content is determined to be 0.2 to 1.7%, and preferably 0.4 to 1.0%. 
     (j) Ni 
     If the Ni content is less than 25%, the desired hydrogenabsorption/desorption rates and initial activation cannot be obtained, in particular, because of the insufficient production of the rare earth element-Ni type alloy composing the phase made of a hydrogenated-product. Therefore, the content is determined to be 25% or more. 
     In addition, the hydrogen occluding alloy according to the present invention can be rendered into a predetermined grain size by ordinary mechanical pulverization. Further, the alloy can be also pulverized by hydrogenation process consisting of hydrogen absorption by heating to a predetermined temperature ranging from 10° C. to 200° C. in a pressurized hydrogen atmosphere and hydrogen desorption by evacuation. The powder 14 obtained by either way exhibits the structure illustrated in the enlarged schematic view of FIGS. 2 and 4 (1a), FIGS. 6 and 8 (1b), and FIGS. 10 and 12 (1c). 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure of the hydrogen occluding alloys 1 to 14 and 98 to 119 according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure of pulverized powder of the hydrogen occluding alloy shown in FIG. 1 according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure of the hydrogen occluding alloys 15 to 32 and 120 to 159 according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure of pulverized powder of the hydrogen occluding alloy shown in FIG. 3 according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure of the hydrogen occluding alloys 33 to 45 and 160 to 182 according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure of pulverized powder of the hydrogen occluding alloy shown in FIG. 5 according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure of the hydrogen occluding alloys 46 to 64 and 183 to 223 according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure of pulverized powder of the hydrogen occluding alloy shown in FIG. 7 according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure of the hydrogen occluding alloys 65 to 79 and 224 to 246 according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure of pulverized powder of the hydrogen occluding alloy shown in FIG. 9 according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure of the hydrogen occluding alloys 80 to 97 and 247 to 287 according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure of pulverized powder of the hydrogen occluding alloy shown in FIG. 11 according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is an enlarged schematic view of the typical structure of a conventional hydrogen occluding alloy; and 
     FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the apparatus used for measuring the hydrogen absorption/desorption rates of the hydrogen occluding alloy; and 
     FIG. 15 is an SEM picture of a hydrogen occluding alloy in accordance with embodiment (a1), discussed above. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The hydrogen occluding alloy according to the present invention will now be described in further detail while giving an embodiment. 
     In an ordinary high-frequency induction melting furnace, Ni, Zr, Ti, Mn, V, La, Ce, Cr and Hf, each of which has a purity higher than 99.9%, and misch metal are used as raw materials and are melted in an Ar atmosphere. As a result, molten alloys, respectively having compositions as shown in Tables 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37 and 39 are prepared, followed by being cast in a water-cooled copper casting mold to be formed into ingots. Each of the ingots is heated for homogenization under vacuum at a predetermined temperature within a range of from 900° C. to 1100° C. for 20 hours. 
     HD 1: After the ingot is maintained at room temperature for 1 hour in a hydrogen atmosphere at a predetermined pressure ranging from 1 to 1.2 atm., it is heated to a predetermined temperature within a range of from 400° C. to 700° C. and maintained thereat for 1 hour. Then, the ingots are subjected to forced air cooling using Ar gas. By the hydrogenating heat treatment processing in accordance with the above conditions, hydrogen occluding alloys 1 to 32 and 98 to 159 according to the present invention (hereinafter called &#34;alloys of the present invention&#34;) are prepared. 
     For comparison, comparative hydrogen occluding alloys having compositions as shown in Tables 1, 5, 17 and 23 are prepared under the same conditions as those described above, except that the hydrogenating heat treatment following the homogenizing heat treatment is omitted. 
     The structures of the thus-obtained hydrogen occluding alloys are observed with a scanning electron microscope. As shown in FIGS, 1 and 3, each of the alloys 1 to 32 and 98 to 159 of the present invention exhibits numerous cracks and a phase which is made of a hydrogenated-product and which is exposed on the surfaces of the cracks, wherein the hydrogenated-product dispersedly distributes in a matrix phase made of a Zx--Ni--Mn type alloy. The phase made of a hydrogenated-product is comprising a rare earth element-Ni type alloy and a rare earth element hydride. Meanwhile, the comparative alloy has a structure consisting of a matrix phase 21 made of a Zx--Ni--Mn based alloy and a dispersed phase 23, made of an La--Ni type alloy and distributed along the grain boundary 22 of the matrix phase, as shown in FIG. 13. 
     HD 2: After the ingot is maintained at room temperature for 1 hour in a hydrogen atmosphere at a predetermined pressure ranging from 1 to 1.2 atm., it is heated to a predetermined temperature within a range of from 400° C. to 700° C. and maintained thereat for 1 hour. Then, the ingots are subjected to forced air cooling using Ar gas. After the hydrogenating heat treatment processing in accordance with the above conditions, the ingots are treated by oxidation such that they are maintained in a 35% KOH aqueous solution for 10 min., followed by drying. Hydrogen occluding alloys 33 to 64 and 160 to 223 according to the present invention &#34;alloys of the present invention&#34; are thereby prepared. 
     For comparison, comparative hydrogen occluding alloys having compositions as shown in Tables 7, 9, 25 and 31, are prepared under the same conditions as those described above, except that the hydrogenating treatment and the oxidation following the homogenizing heat treatment are omitted. 
     The structures of the thus-obtained hydrogen occluding alloys are observed with a scanning electron microscope. As shown FIGS. 5 and 7, each of the alloys 33 to 64, 160 to 223 of the present invention exhibits numerous cracks and a hydrogenated-product phase comprising a rare earth element-Ni type alloy and a rare earth element hydroxide is exposed on the surfaces of the cracks, wherein the hydrogenated-product phase is dispersedly distributed in a matrix phase made of a Zx--Ni--Mn type alloy. Meanwhile, the comparative alloy has a structure consisting of a matrix phase made of a Zx--Ni--Mn based alloy and a dispersed phase, which is made of an La--Ni type alloy and distributed along the grain boundary of the matrix phase, as shown in FIG. 13. 
     HD 3: After the ingot is maintained at room temperature for one hour in a hydrogen atmosphere of a given pressure within a range from 1 to 1.2 atm., it is heated to a predetermined temperature within a range from 400° to 700° C. and subjected to a hydrogenation treatment at the predetermined temperature. After holding the hydrogenation temperature set forth above for one hour, the ingot is subjected to hydrogenation with forced cooling by Ar gas, followed by oxidation in an oxidizing atmosphere at 450° C. for 1 hour. In such a way, hydrogen occluding alloys 65 to 97 and 224 to 287 in accordance with the present invention (&#34;alloys of the present invention&#34;) are prepared. 
     For comparison, comparative hydrogen occluding alloys having the compositions shown in Tables 11, 13, 35 and 39 are prepared under the same conditions as those for the alloys of the present invention, except that the hydrogenation and oxidation processes after homogenization are omitted. 
     The photographs of the structure of the resulting hydrogen occluding alloys obtained by a scanning electron microscope demonstrate that each of alloys 65 to 97 and 224 to 287 of the present invention has a structure in which numerous cracks exist, the hydrogenated-product phase (comprising the rare earth element-Ni type alloy and the rare earth element oxide) is exposed on the surfaces of cracks, and the hydrogenated-product phase is dispersively distributed in the matrix phase made of the Zr--Ni--Mn based alloy, as shown in FIG. 9 and 11. Whereas, the comparative alloy has a structure in which the dispersion phase made of La--Ni type alloy is distributed along the grain of the matrix phase made of the Zx--Ni--Mn based alloy, as shown in FIG. 13. 
     Then, the hydrogen absorption rate and the hydrogen desorption rate of each of the alloys 1 to 287 of the present invention and the comparative alloys are measured in accordance with JIS·H7202 &#34;Method for Measuring Hydrogenation Rate of Hydrogen Occluding Alloy&#34;. 
     Prior to the measurement, alloys 1 to 287 of the present invention and the comparative alloys are respectively enclosed in a pressure container and subjected to hydrogenation pulverization including hydrogen absorption in a hydrogen atmosphere of 8 atm. at 200° C. for one hour, and the hydrogen desorption by evacuation. Thus, powder having a grain size of 200 mesh or less is obtained and subjected to the measurements under the following conditions. 
     First, the hydrogen-absorption rate is, as illustrated in a schematic view in FIG. 14, measured as follows: 
     (a) Powder is enclosed in a container 41 immersed in a (oil or water) bath 42, then a valve Vb is closed and valves Va and Vc are opened while maintaining the temperature in the bath at 200° C. in order to introduce pressurized hydrogen into the system from a hydrogen cylinder 43. When the pressure in the system reaches 30 atm., the valve Va is closed and the system is then allowed to stand until the pressure in the system decreases to a predetermined level (until the hydrogen absorption is completed). Thus, the powder is initially activated. 
     (b) After the pressure in the system decreases to a predetermined level (around 20 atm.), the valve Vb is opened, followed by lowering the pressure in the system to 10 -2  Torr by a vacuum pump 44. The bath temperature is lowered to 20° C. and the valves Vb and Vc are closed and the valve Va is opened to introduce hydrogen into the system, except for the container. When the pressure is raised to 30 atm., the valve Va is closed and the valve Vc is opened. In such a state, the pressure drop in the system with respect to time is measured. The quantity of occluded hydrogen at the point when the quantity of hydrogen occluded by powder reaches 80%, and time taken to the foregoing moment are obtained from the pressure-drop curve so that (the quantity of occluded hydrogen when the occlusion of 80% is realized)/(the time taken to realize the occlusion of 80%) is calculated. The thus-obtained value is defined as the hydrogen absorption rate. 
     The hydrogen desorption rate is determined by the following procedure: The bath is maintained at a temperature of, for example, 120° C., appropriate for hydrogen desorption within a range of from 100° C. to 300° C. in a state in which the measurement of the hydrogen absorption rate has been completed, that is, in a state in which the valves Va and Vb are closed, the valve Vc is opened, and the pressure in the system reaches a predetermined level (Usually around 20 atm.). Then, the valve Vb is opened and the valve Vc is closed, and in the foregoing state, the pressure in the system, except for the container 41, is evacuated to 10 -2  Torr. Then, the valve Vb is closed and the valve Vc is opened, and in this state, the pressure rise in the system with respect to time is measured. The quantity of desorbed hydrogen at the point when the quantity of hydrogen desorbed from powder reaches 80%, and time taken to the foregoing moment are obtained from the pressure-rise curve so that (the quantity of desorbed hydrogen when the desorption of 80% is realized)/(the time taken to realize the desorption of 80%) is calculated. The thus-obtained value is defined as the hydrogen desorption rate. The results are shown in Tables 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40. 
     In addition, each of the alloys 1 to 287 of the present invention and each of the comparative alloys are powdered and included as an active material in a corresponding battery to evaluate the initial activation as will be described in detail. Charging and discharging of the battery are repeated until the battery shows the maximum discharge capacity in order to measure the number of charging and discharging cycles when a discharge capacity corresponding to 95%±1% of the maximum discharge capacity is attained. 
     That is, the comparative alloys are roughly crushed into coarse grains having a diameter of 2 mm or less by a jaw crusher, then the alloys 1 to 287 of the present invention and the foregoing roughly crushed comparative alloy are finely crushed to a grain size of 200 mesh or less with a ball-mill, respectively, and obtained as paste by adding water, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as a binder and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a thickener. After that, each of them is loaded on a corresponding porous sintered Ni plate, which is commercially available and has a porosity of 95%, dried, pressed, and shaped into a plane size of 30 by 40 mm having a thickness of 0.40 to 0.43 mm (the amount of the loaded active material: approximately 1.8 g); then a thin Ni plate to be used as a lead is welded at a side thereof to form a negative electrode. Meanwhile, with respect to the positive electrode, Ni (OH) 2  and Co0 blended at a ratio of 84:16 by weight are used as the active material. They are rendered pasty adding water, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as a binder and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a thickener, loaded on the porous sintered Ni plate, dried, pressed, and shaped into a plane size of 30 by 40 mm with a thickness of 0.71 to 0.73 mm; then a thin Ni plate is installed at a side thereof to form a positive electrode. Afterward, the positive electrodes are provided at both sides of the negative electrodes through corresponding separators made of a polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer, and then, protecting plates made of vinyl chloride are integrated therewith at both sides of the positive electrodes to prevent the active material from dropping from the outside of the positive electrodes. 
     1 The battery, whose electrode has component composition shown in Table 1, is fabricated by inserting thus-obtained integrated electrodes into a cell made of vinyl chloride and pouring a 35% KOH aqueous solution, as an electrolyte solution, into the cell. 
     The resultant battery is subjected to charge/discharge cycles under conditions of a charge rate of 0.20 C, a discharge rate of 0.16 C and a quantity of charged capacity corresponding to 135% of the negative electrode capacity. The charge/discharge cycles are repeated until the battery exhibits the maximum discharge capacity, in which one cycle of charge and discharge is counted as one charge/discharge. 
     Table 2 shows the maximum discharge capacity obtained by the procedure set forth above, as well as the number of charge/discharge cycles as a measure evaluating the initial activation, at which the discharge capacity is 95% of the maximum discharge capacity. 
     2 The battery, whose electrode has component composition shown in Samples 15-32 and COM-2 (Tables 3 and 5), is fabricated by inserting thus-obtained integrated electrodes into a cell made of vinyl chloride and pouring a 35% KOH aqueous solution, as an electrolyte solution, into the cell. 
     The resultant battery is subjected to charge/discharge cycles under conditions of a charge rate of 0.20 C, a discharge rate of 0.20 C, and a quantity of charged capacity corresponding to 135% of the negative electrode capacity. The charge/discharge cycles are repeated until the battery exhibits the maximum discharge capacity, in which one cycle of charge and discharge is counted as one charge/discharge. 
     Tables 4 and 6 show the maximum discharge capacity obtained by the procedure set forth above, as well as the number of charge/discharge cycles as a measure evaluating the initial activation, at which the discharge capacity is 95% of the maximum discharge capacity. 
     3 The battery, whose electrode has component composition shown in Samples 33-45 and COM-3 (Tables 5 and 7), is fabricated by inserting thus-obtained integrated electrodes into a cell made of vinyl chloride and pouring a 35% KOH aqueous solution, as an electrolyte solution, into the cell. 
     The resultant battery is subjected to charge/discharge cycles under conditions of a charge rate of 0.25 C, a discharge rate of 0.18 C, and a quantity of charged capacity corresponding to 135% of the negative electrode capacity. The charge/discharge cycles are repeated until the battery exhibits the maximum discharge capacity, in which one cycle of charge and discharge is counted as one charge/discharge. 
     Tables 6 and 8 show the maximum discharge capacity obtained by the procedure set forth above, as well as the number of charge/discharge cycles as a measure evaluating the initial activation, at which the discharge capacity is 95% of the maximum discharge capacity. 
     4 The battery, whose electrode has component composition shown in Samples 46-64 and COM-4 (Tables 7 and 9), is fabricated by inserting thus-obtained integrated electrodes into a cell made of vinyl chloride and pouring a 35% KOH aqueous solution, as an electrolyte solution, into the cell. 
     The resultant battery is subjected to charge/discharge cycles under conditions of a charge rate of 0.18 C, a discharge rate of 0.16 C, and a quantity of charged capacity corresponding to 135% of the negative electrode capacity. The charge/discharge cycles are repeated until the battery exhibits the maximum discharge capacity, in which one cycle of charge and discharge is counted as one charge/discharge. 
     Tables 8 and 10 show the maximum discharge capacity obtained by the procedure set forth above, as well as the number of charge/discharge cycles as a measure evaluating the initial activation, at which the discharge capacity is 95% of the maximum discharge capacity. 
     5 The battery, whose electrode has component composition shown in Samples 65-79 and COM-5 (Tables 9 and 11), is fabricated by inserting thus-obtained integrated electrodes into a cell made of vinyl chloride and pouring a 35% KOH aqueous solution, as an electrolyte solution, into the cell. 
     The resultant battery is subjected to charge/discharge cycles under conditions of a charge rate of 0.22 C, a discharge rate of 0.20 C, and a quantity of charged capacity corresponding to 135% of the negative electrode capacity. The charge/discharge cycles are repeated until the battery exhibits the maximum discharge capacity, in which one cycle of charge and discharge is counted as one charge/discharge. 
     Tables 10 and 12 show the maximum discharge capacity obtained by the procedure set forth above, as well as the number of charge/discharge cycles as a measure evaluating the initial activation, at which the discharge capacity is 95% of the maximum discharge capacity. 
     6 The battery, whose electrode has component composition shown in Samples 80-97 and COM-6 (Tables 11 and 13), is fabricated by inserting thus-obtained integrated electrodes into a cell made of vinyl chloride and pouring a 35% KOH aqueous solution, as an electrolyte solution, into the cell. 
     The resultant battery is subjected to charge/discharge cycles under conditions of a charge rate of 0.25 C, a discharge rate of 0.20 C, and a quantity of charged capacity corresponding to 135% of the negative electrode capacity. The charge/discharge cycles are repeated until the battery exhibits the maximum discharge capacity, in which one cycle of charge and discharge is counted as one charge/discharge. 
     Tables 12 and 14 show the maximum discharge capacity obtained by the procedure set forth above, as well as the number of charge/discharge cycles as a measure evaluating the initial activation, at which the discharge capacity is 95% of the maximum discharge capacity. 
     7 The battery, whose electrode has component composition shown in Samples 98-287 and COM-7 through COM-12 (Tables 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37 and 39) is fabricated by inserting thus-obtained integrated electrodes into a cell made of vinyl chloride and pouring a 30% KOH aqueous solution, as an electrolyte solution, into the cell. 
     The resultant battery is subjected to charge/discharge cycles under conditions of a charge rate of 0.15 C, a discharge rate of 0.15 C, and a quantity of charged capacity corresponding to 135% of the negative electrode capacity. The charge/discharge cycles are repeated until the battery exhibits the maximum discharge capacity, in which one cycle of charge and discharge is counted as one charge/discharge. 
     Tables 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 show the maximum discharge capacity obtained by the procedure set forth above, as well as the number of charge/discharge cycles as a measure evaluating the initial activation, at which the discharge capacity is 95% of the maximum discharge capacity. 
     It is understood from the results shown in Tables 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 that each of the alloys 1 to 287 of the present invention exhibits relatively and significantly high hydrogen-absorption rates and significantly enhanced initial activation because the rare earth element-Ni type alloy exhibiting a significantly rapid hydrogen absorption is distributed over a broad surface area as a whole. That is, the atmospheric hydrogen is desorbed as the hydrogen atoms and absorbed through the rare earth element-Ni type alloy included in the phase made of hydrogenated products, which phase is exposed over a large surface area with respect to the atmosphere as a whole because it is exposed on the surface and the surfaces of the numerous cracks. Directly or through the rare earth element hydride, the absorbed hydrogen is diffused into the matrix phase made of the Zx--Ni--Mn based alloy to be occluded therein. Moreover, the hydrogen desorption rate is also high because it proceeds in accordance with a mechanism contrary to the foregoing. 
     
                                           TABLE I__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)              Rare Earth Elements                               Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V   La Ce Pr                      Nd                        Hf                          H  O impurity__________________________________________________________________________1     25.1    6.0       15.6          5.1 0.9                 2.0                    --                      --                        --                          0.063                             --                               Bal.2     30.3    5.9       16.2          5.2 -- 3.4                    --                      --                        --                          0.067                             --                               Bal.3     34.6    5.7       16.1          5.0 3.1                 -- --                      --                        --                          0.064                             --                               Bal.4     36.8    5.2       15.7          4.9 1.5                 1.6                    --                      --                        --                          0.065                             --                               Bal.5     34.3    10.2       16.1          5.2 3.0                 -- --                      --                        --                          0.066                             --                               Bal.6     34.3    6.0       10.3          5.3 2.9                 -- --                      --                        --                          0.063                             --                               Bal.7     34.4    5.9       17.3          4.9 -- 3.2                    --                      --                        --                          0.066                             --                               Bal.8     34.5    6.2       19.6          5.0 -- 3.6                    --                      --                        --                          0.071                             --                               Bal.9     34.8    6.0       15.7          2.9 1.6                 1.2                    --                      --                        --                          0.062                             --                               Bal.10    34.1    6.2       16.4          5.1 0.53                 -- --                      --                        --                          0.016                             --                               Bal.11    34.7    6.0       15.9          5.2 -- 0.54                    --                      --                        --                          0.017                             --                               Bal.12    34.7    6.1       16.1          4.9 2.1                 -- --                      --                        --                          0.054                             --                               Bal.13    34.5    6.1       16.2          5.0 -- 4.8                    --                      --                        --                          0.085                             --                               Bal.14    34.7    6.0       15.6          5.2 2.3                 2.5                    --                      --                        --                          0.086                             --                               Bal.COM-1 21.9    12.7       24.6          Cr: 23.3              3.7                 -- --                      --                        --                          -- --                               Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ COM: Comparative Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 2______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________1       0.19      0.19      385     32       0.18      0.18      400     23       0.19      0.20      420     24       0.20      0.20      417     25       0.20      0.20      421     26       0.19      0.19      417     37       0.19      0.20      417     28       0.20      0.19      419     29       0.19      0.18      415     210      0.17      0.16      420     511      0.17      0.18      418     412      0.19      0.19      416     313      0.20      0.21      415     114      0.21      0.21      416     2COM-1   0.07      0.07      355     19______________________________________ COM: Comparative 
    
     
                                           TABLE 3__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)            Rare Earth Elements                             Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti      Mn V  La              Ce                Pr                  Nd Hf H  O impurity__________________________________________________________________________15    30.1    6.1      15.6         5.0            1.7              1.6                --                  -- 1.5                        0.076                           --                             Bal.16    34.5    6.2      15.8         5.0            3.3              --                --                  -- 1.5                        0.077                           --                             Bal.17    36.9    5.1      16.1         4.9            1.2              2.4                --                  -- 1.3                        0.081                           --                             Bal.18    34.3    9.9      15.9         5.2            3.0              --                --                  -- 1.4                        0.075                           --                             Bal.19    34.3    5.8      10\.2         5.1            3.4              --                --                  -- 1.3                        0.079                           --                             Bal.20    34.4    6.1      19.3         4.8            1.5              1.9                --                  -- 1.5                        0.080                           --                             Bal.21    34.6    5.9      16.2         2.3            --              3.0                --                  -- 1.4                        0.075                           --                             Bal.22    34.2    5.8      15.9         8.6            2.9              --                --                  -- 1.4                        0.074                           --                             Ba1.23    34.4    6.0      15.8         11.6            1.7              1.6                --                  -- 1.3                        0.078                           --                             Bal.24    34.6    6.0      15.9         5.2            1.9              --                --                  -- 1.4                        0.062                           --                             Bal.25    34.4    5.9      16.3         5.1            4.4              --                --                  -- 1.5                        0.126                           --                             Bal.26    34.2    6.3      15.6         4.9            --              1.5                --                  -- 1.4                        0.057                           --                             Bal.27    34.7    5.9      16.3         5.2            --              4.6                --                  -- 1.3                        0.127                           --                             Bal.28    34.3    6.2      16.2         5.1            1.0              1.0                --                  -- 0.12                        0.063                           --                             Bal.29    34.4    5.8      16.1         5.0            3.1              --                --                  -- 0.12                        0.076                           --                             Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 4______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________15      0.17      0.18      407     316      0.19      0.19      419     217      0.20      0.19      415     218      0.20      0.20      417     219      0.19      0.18      417     220      0.18      0.19      419     221      0.16      0.16      410     222      0.17      0.18      419     123      0.19      0.20      422     224      0.19      0.18      420     425      0.22      0.23      417     226      0.19      0.18      419     327      0.23      0.22      416     128      0.18      0.18      416     229      0.19      0.19      418     2______________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE 5__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)              Rare Earth Elements                                Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V   La                Ce Pr                     Nd                       Hf H  O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________30    34.4    6.1       15.9          5.1 --                2.8                   --                     --                       0.62                          0.072                             -- Bal.31    34.6    5.9       16.0          4.9 1.7                1.3                   --                     --                       0.59                          0.075                             -- Bal.32    34.2    6.0       15.8          4.8 3.2                -- --                     --                       1.8                          0.077                             -- Bal.COM-2 21.0    12.5       24.7          Cr: 23.5              --                -- --                     --                       --    -- Bal.33    30.8    6.1       15.9          5.3 --                3.3                   --                     --                       -- 0.087                             1.15                                Bal.34    34.5    6.1       16.1          5.0 3.0                -- --                     --                       -- 0.085                             1.09                                Bal.35    36.9    5.3       16.3          4.8 1.6                1.4                   --                     --                       -- 0.082                             1.12                                Bal.36    34.2    9.8       15.8          5.1 3.1                -- --                     --                       -- 0.084                             1.13                                Bal.37    34.2    5.9       10.4          4.9 3.0                -- --                     --                       -- 0.082                             1.03                                Bal.38    34.2    5.8       15.4          5.0 --                3.1                   --                     --                       -- 0.085                             1.08                                Bal.39    34.1    5.9       17.3          4.9 --                3.5                   --                     --                       -- 0.089                             1.15                                Bal.40    34.4    6.1       19.5          5.1 1.9                0.8                   --                     --                       -- 0.079                             0.98                                Bal.41    34.3    5.9       15.8          3.0 1.5                1.5                   --                     --                       -- 0.082                             1.00                                Bal.42    34.7    5.9       15.8          2.8 --                0.59                   --                     --                       -- 0.019                             0.38                                Bal.43    34.8    6.1       16.1          4.9 2.0                -- --                     --                       -- 0.062                             0.75                                Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ COM: Comparative Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 6______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________30      0.19      0.20      419     231      0.18      0.18      418     232      0.19      0.20      419     1COM-2   0.08      0.08      360     1833      0.18      0.18      405     134      0.20      0.19      418     235      0.19      0.20      419     236      0.20      0.21      417     237      0.20      0.19      420     238      0.19      0.19      418     239      0.20      0.20      417     340      0.18      0.17      410     241      0.20      0.20      415     242      0.18      0.17      420     243      0.19      0.18      419     2______________________________________ COM: Comparative 
    
     
                                           TABLE 7__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)              Rare Earth Elements                               Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V   La                Ce                  Pr                    Nd Hf                         H  O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________44    34.9    5.9       15.9          5.1 --                5.0                  --                    -- --                         0.107                            1.58                               Bal.45    34.7    6.2       16.2          4.9 2.5                2.2                  --                    -- --                         0.099                            1.49                               Bal.COM-3 21.3    12.8       24.8          Cr: 23.6              3.1                --                  --                    -- --                         -- -- Bal.46    25.1    5.8       15.9          5.2 1.7                1.6                  --                    -- 1.4                         0.097                            1.10                               Bal.47    30.3    5.9       16.1          4.9 1.8                1.7                  --                    -- 1.4                         0.101                            1.16                               Bal.48    34.1    6.0       16.0          5.1 3.2                --                  --                    -- 1.3                         0.095                            1.08                               Bal.49    36.7    5.2       16.2          5.0 1.0                2.4                  --                    -- 1.5                         0.099                            1.14                               Bal.50    34.0    10.3       16.4          5.1 2.8                --                  --                    -- 1.4                         0.088                            0.97                               Bal.51    34.5    6.2       10.5          4.8 3.4                --                  --                    -- 1.3                         0.099                            1.14                               Bal.52    34.4    6.3       19.8          4.9 1.7                1.7                  --                    -- 1.5                         0.099                            1.15                               Bal.53    34.3    5.9       15.8          2.2 --                2.9                  --                    -- 1.3                         0.090                            1.00                               Bal.54    34.4    6.3       16.0          8.2 3.3                --                  --                    -- 1.3                         0.097                            1.11                               Bal.55    34.2    6.1       15.7          11.7              1.6                1.7                  --                    -- 1.4                         0.098                            1.12                               Bal.56    34.6    6.0       16.2          5.0 2.0                --                  --                    -- 1.4                         0.075                            0.75                               Bal.57    34.2    6.1       16.1          4.9 4.5                --                  --                    -- 1.5                         0.169                            2.27                               Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ COM: Comparative Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 8______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________44      0.20      0.20      418     245      0.22      0.22      418     1COM-3   0.08      0.08      360     1946      0.18      0.20      390     247      0.18      0.19      405     348      0.19      0.18      418     249      0.19      0.19      414     250      0.20      0.19      418     251      0.19      0.18      415     252      0.19      0.19      417     253      0.16      0.11      408     354      0.18      0.18      418     255      0.19      0.20      422     256      0.19      0.20      419     357      0.23      0.24      415     1______________________________________ COM: Comparative 
    
     
                                           TABLE 9__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)              Rare Earth Elements                                Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V   La                Ce                  Pr                    Nd Hf H  O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________58    34.8    5.9       15.9          5.0 --                1.9                  --                    -- 1.4                          0.073                             0.73                                Bal.59    34.4    6.2       15.8          5.1 --                4.8                  --                    -- 1.2                          0.173                             2.32                                Bal.60    34.3    5.8       16.0          5.0 0.9                1.3                  --                    -- 0.11                          0.078                             0.81                                Bal.61    34.5    6.0       16.1          4.8 3.0                --                  --                    -- 0.12                          0.092                             1.03                                Bal.62    34.5    6.1       16.3          4.7 --                2.9                  --                    -- 0.60                          0.090                             0.99                                Bal.63    34.6    5.9       15.7          4.9 1.6                1.5                  --                    -- 0.61                          0.094                             1.05                                Bal.64    34.2    6.0       15.9          5.1 2.9                --                  --                    -- 1.91                          0.091                             1.0l                                Bal.COM-4 22.0    13.1       24.9          Cr: 23.6              3.5                --                  --                    -- -- -- -- Bal.65    25.5    6.2       16.0          4.9 1.0                2.1                  --                    -- -- -- 0.61                                Bal.66    29.2    5.8       15.9          5.0 --                3.1                  --                    -- -- -- 0.65                                Bal.67    34.7    5.9       15.8          4.8 3.3                --                  --                    -- -- -- 0.66                                Bal.68    36.7    5.4       16.1          5.1 1.4                1.7                  --                    -- -- -- 0.61                                Bal.69    34.7    10.8       15.9          5.2 3.0                --                  --                    -- -- -- 0.60                                Bal.70    34.5    6.1       10.1          5.2 --                2.7                  --                    -- -- -- 0.57                                Bal.71    34.7    6.2       15.2          4.8 3.1                --                  --                    -- -- -- 0.62                                Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ COM: Comparative Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 10______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________58      0.18      0.19      418     359      0.22      0.24      414     260      0.18      0.19      416     261      0.19      0.19      418     262      0.18      0.20      418     263      0.18      0.19      419     264      0.19      0.20      419     1COM-4   0.08      0.09      362     1865      0.18      0.18      380     266      0.18      0.19      395     167      0.19      0.21      421     268      0.21      0.20      419     269      0.19      0.20      419     270      0.19      0.20      418     371      0.19      0.20      417     2______________________________________ COM: Comparative 
    
     
                                           TABLE 11__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)              Rare Earth Elements                               Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V   La Ce Pr                      Nd                        Hf                          H O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________72    34.8    6.1       17.9          4.9 -- 3.5                    --                      --                        --                          --                            0.70                               Bal.73    34.7    5.9       19.9          5.2 2.1                 0.7                    --                      --                        --                          --                            0.59                               Bal.74    34.9    6.1       15.9          2.7 1.5                 1.4                    --                      --                        --                          --                            0.59                               Bal.75    34.2    6.0       16.3          4.8 0.56                 -- --                      --                        --                          --                            0.28                               Bal.76    34.1    5.9       15.9          5.1 -- 0.59                    --                      --                        --                          --                            0.29                               Bal.77    34.6    6.1       15.8          5.0 2.2                 -- --                      --                        --                          --                            0.47                               Bal.78    34.5    6.2       16.2          5.1 -- 5.0                    --                      --                        --                          --                            0.91                               Bal.79    34.7    5.8       16.1          4.9 2.6                 2.4                    --                      --                        --                          --                            0.85                               Bal.COM-5 22.0    12.7       24.9          Cr: 23.5              3.2                 -- --                      --                        --                          --                            -- Bal.80    29.8    6.0       16.3          4.9 1.8                 1.6                    --                      --                        1.3                          --                            0.67                               Bal.81    34.2    5.9       16.2          5.0 3.3                 -- --                      --                        1.4                          --                            0.66                               Bal.82    36.1    5.2       16.2          4.8 1.6                 2.0                    --                      --                        1.4                          --                            0.70                               Bal.83    34.5    10.1       16.1          4.7 3.1                 -- --                      --                        1.2                          --                            0.62                               Bal.84    34.3    6.2       10.3          5.3 3.4                 -- --                      --                        1.4                          --                            0.66                               Bal.85    34.4    6.1       19.5          5.0 1.8                 1.5                    --                      --                        1.5                          --                            0.65                               Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ COM: Comparative Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 12______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________72      0.19      0.20      419     273      0.16      0.18      420     374      0.18      0.18      414     275      0.16      0.15      423     476      0.17      0.17      417     477      0.19      0.19      415     378      0.21      0.20      413     279      0.21      0.21      415     1COM-5   0.07      0.08      357     1880      0.19      0.20      404     281      0.19      0.18      420     382      0.20      0.20      411     283      0.19      0.20      416     284      0.19      0.19      417     285      0.19      0.19      418     2______________________________________ COM: Comparative 
    
     
                                           TABLE 13__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)              Rare Earth Elements                                Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V   La Ce                   Pr                     Nd                       Hf H  O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________86    34.5    5.8       15.9          2.1 -- 3.2                   --                     --                       1.4                          -- 0.64                                Bal.87    34.6    6.0       16.0          8.2 3.2                 --                   --                     --                       1.5                          -- 0.64                                Bal.88    34.5    6.1       15.9          11.5              1.5                 1.6                   --                     --                       1.3                          -- 0.63                                Bal.89    34.5    6.0       16.3          5.1 2.3                 --                   --                     --                       1.3                          -- 0.52                                Bal.90    34.4    6.1       15.9          5.1 4.9                 --                   --                     --                       1.4                          -- 1.31                                Bal.91    34.5    6.2       16.0          5.1 -- 1.9                   --                     --                       1.3                          -- 0.47                                Bal.92    34.3    5.8       15.7          4.8 -- 4.6                   --                     --                       1.5                          -- 1.25                                Bal.93    34.2    5.9       15.9          5.0 0.85                 1.2                   --                     --                       0.13                          -- 0.48                                Bal.94    34.6    5.8       15.9          5.1 3.2                 --                   --                     --                       0.12                          -- 0.64                                Bal.95    34.7    6.0       16.1          4.8 -- 3.0                   --                     --                       0.58                          -- 0.61                                Bal.96    34.4    6.2       16.0          4.7 1.7                 1.4                   --                     --                       0.60                          -- 0.63                                Bal.97    34.2    6.1       16.2          4.8 3.3                 --                   --                     --                       1.9                          -- 0.65                                Bal.COM-6 21.3    12.9       24.6          Cr: 23.5              -- --                   --                     --                       -- -- -- Bal.98    25.1    6.0       15.6          5.1 0.9                 2.0                   --                     --                       -- 0.06                             -- Bal.99    30.3    5.9       16.2          5.2 -- 3.4                   --                     --                       -- 0.07                             -- Bal.100   34.6    5.7       16.1          5.0 3.1                 --                   --                     --                       -- 0.06                             -- Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ COM: Comparative Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 14______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________86      0.17      0.17      410     287      0.18      0.19      419     288      0.20      0.20      423     389      0.19      0.19      419     390      0.24      0.24      416     191      0.18      0.20      420     392      0.23      0.24      417     293      0.18      0.18      419     294      0.18      0.20      418     295      0.19      0.19      420     296      0.20      0.20      419     297      0.20      0.19      419     1COM-6   0.09      0.07      358     1998      0.19      0.19      383     299      0.18      0.18      402     2100     0.19      0.2       410     2______________________________________ COM: Comparative 
    
     
                                           TABLE 15__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)             Rare Earth Elements                             Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V  La Ce                  Pr                    Nd                      Hf                        H  O impurity__________________________________________________________________________101   36.8    5.2       15.7          4.9             1.5                1.6                  --                    --                      --                        0.07                           --                             Bal.102   40.1    6.0       16.1          5.0             3.0                --                  --                    --                      --                        0.06                           --                             Bal.103   44.8    5.7       15.6          4.9             2.0                0.9                  --                    --                      --                        0.06                           --                             Bal.104   35.0    1.1       15.7          5.1             1.5                1.6                  --                    --                      --                        0.07                           --                             Bal.105   34.9    4.2       16.0          4.9             -- 3.4                  --                    --                      --                        0.07                           --                             Bal.106   34.3    10.2       16.1          5.2             3.0                --                  --                    --                      --                        0.07                           --                             Bal.107   34.8    11.9       15.6          5.0             2.0                0.9                  --                    --                      --                        0.06                           --                             Bal.108   34.3    6.0       10.3          5.3             2.9                --                  --                    --                      --                        0.06                           --                             Bal.109   34.4    5.9       17.3          4.9             -- 3.2                  --                    --                      --                        0.07                           --                             Bal.110   34.5    6.2       19.6          5.0             -- 3.6                  --                    --                      --                        0.07                           --                             Bal.111   34.6    5.9       l5.6          2.0             1.6                1.5                  --                    --                      --                        0.07                           --                             Bal.112   34.8    6.0       15.7          2.9             1.6                1.2                  --                    --                      --                        0.06                           --                             Bal.113   34.9    6.0       15.8          7.9             2.9                --                  --                    --                      --                        0.06                           --                             Bal.114   34.3    5.7       16.0          11.8             -- 3.0                  --                    --                      --                        0.06                           --                             Bal.115   34.1    6.2       16.4          5.1             0.53                --                  --                    --                      --                        0.02                           --                             Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 16______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________101     0.2       0.2       411     2102     0.2       0.21      411     2103     0.21      0.2       402     2104     0.21      0.2       394     2105     0.2       0.21      407     2106     0.2       0.2       403     2107     0.18      0.19      394     2108     0.19      0.19      401     2109     0.19      0.2       408     2110     0.2       0.19      400     2111     0.18      0.19      394     2112     0.19      0.18      402     2113     0.19      0.2       414     2114     0.18      0.19      395     2115     0.17      0.16      415     5______________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE 17__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)              Rare Earth Elements                              Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V   La                Ce Pr                     Nd                       Hf                         H  O impurity__________________________________________________________________________116   34.7    6.0       15.9          5.2 --                0.54                   --                     --                       --                         0.02                            --                              Bal.117   34.7    6.1       16.1          4.9 2.1                -- --                     --                       --                         0.05                            --                              Bal.118   34.5    6.1       16.2          5.0 --                4.8                   --                     --                       --                         0.09                            --                              Bal.119   34.7    6.0       15.6          5.2 2.3                2.5                   --                     --                       --                         0.09                            --                              Bal.COM-7 23.8    12.5       24.1          Cr: 22.9              3.8                -- --                     --                       --                         -- --                              Bal.120   25.1    6.0       15.9          5.0 --                3.0                   --                     --                       1.4                         0.075                            --                              Bal.121   30.1    6.1       15.6          5.0 1.7                1.6                   --                     --                       1.5                         0.076                            --                              Bal.122   34.5    6.2       15.8          5.0 3.3                -- --                     --                       1.5                         0.077                            --                              Bal.123   36.9    5.1       16.1          4.9 1.2                2.4                   --                     --                       1.3                         0.081                            --                              Bal.124   40.2    6.0       15.9          5.1 1.5                1.9                   --                     --                       1.5                         0.080                            --                              Bal.125   44.9    5.1       15.6          4.9 3.0                -- --                     --                       1.3                         0.075                            --                              Bal.126   34.4    1.1       15.8          5.1 1.7                1.6                   --                     --                       1.5                         0.076                            --                              Bal.127   34.6    3.9       15.9          5.1 --                3.0                   --                     --                       1.4                         0.075                            --                              Bal.128   34.3    9.9       15.9          5.2 3.0                -- --                     --                       1.4                         0.075                            --                              Bal.129   34.5    11.8       16.1          4.9 1.2                2.4                   --                     --                       1.3                         0.081                            --                              Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ COM: Comparative Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 18______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________116     0.17      0.18      417     5117     0.19      0.19      412     2118     0.2       0.21      407     2119     0.21      0.21      408     2COM-7   0.07      0.07      349     18120     0.18      0.17      386     2121     0.17      0.18      406     2122     0.19      0.19      415     2123     0.20      0.19      414     2124     0.20      0.20      415     2125     0.19      0.20      405     2126     0.20      0.19      398     2127     0.19      0.20      412     2128     0.20      0.20      409     2129     0.21      0.20      397     2______________________________________ COM: Comparative 
    
     
                                           TABLE 19__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)            Rare Earth Elements                              Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti      Mn V  La Ce Pr                    Nd                      Hf H  O impurity__________________________________________________________________________130   34.3    5.8      10.2         5.1            3.4               -- --                    --                      1.3                         0.079                            --                              Bal.131   34.4    6.1      19.3         4.8            1.5               1.9                  --                    --                      1.5                         0.080                            --                              Bal.132   34.6    5.9      16.2         2.3            -- 3.0                  --                    --                      1.4                         0.075                            --                              Bal.133   34.2    5.8      15.9         8.6            2.9               -- --                    --                      1.4                         0.074                            --                              Bal.134   34.4    6.0      15.8         11.6            1.7               1.6                  --                    --                      1.3                         0.078                            --                              Bal.135   34.1    5.8      15.8         5.0            0.53               -- --                    --                      1.2                         0.045                            --                              Bal.136   34.6    6.0      15.9         5.2            1.9               -- --                    --                      1.4                         0.062                            --                              Bal.137   34.4    5.8      16.3         5.1            4.4               -- --                    --                      1.5                         0.126                            --                              Bal.138   34.3    6.2      15.9         4.8            -- 0.52                  --                    --                      1.3                         0.045                            --                              Bal.139   34.2    6.3      15.6         4.9            -- 1.5                  --                    --                      1.4                         0.057                            --                              Bal.140   34.7    5.9      16.3         5.2            -- 4.6                  --                    --                      1.3                         0.127                            --                              Bal.141   34.3    6.2      16.2         5.1            1.0               1.0                  --                    --                      0.12                         0.063                            --                              Bal.142   34.4    5.8      16.1         5.0            3.1               -- --                    --                      0.12                         0.076                            --                              Bal.143   34.4    6.1      15.9         5.1            -- 2.8                  --                    --                      0.62                         0.072                            --                              Bal.144   34.6    5.9      16.0         4.9            1.7               1.3                  --                    --                      0.59                         0.075                            --                              Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 20______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________130     0.19      0.18      403     2131     0.18      0.19      405     2132     0.16      0.16      401     2133     0.17      0.18      416     2134     0.19      0.20      401     2135     0.18      0.19      419     5136     0.19      0.18      418     3137     0.22      0.23      412     2138     0.18      0.19      419     5139     0.19      0.18      418     3140     0.23      0.22      412     2141     0.18      0.18      413     2142     0.19      0.19      411     2143     0.19      0.20      414     2144     0.18      0.18      413     2______________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE 21__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)           Rare Earth Elements                              Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti      Mn V La Ce Pr Nd Hf                         H  O impurity__________________________________________________________________________145   34.2    6.0      15.8         4.8           3.2              -- -- -- 1.8                         0.077                            --                              Bal.146   34.0    5.9      15.8         5.1           1.7              1.3                 -- -- 2.6                         0.075                            --                              Bal.147   35.0    6.1      15.7         4.9           1.7              1.2                 -- -- 3.9                         0.074                            --                              Bal.148   34.6    6.0      16.0         4.8           0.13              0.26                 0.03                    0.09                       1.0                         0.046                            --                              Bal.149   34.7    6.0      16.1         5.1           0.21              0.18                 0.13                    -- 0.9                         0.046                            --                              Bal.150   34.3    6.1      15.8         5.2           0.28              -- 0.23                    -- 1.1                         0.046                            --                              Bal.151   34.7    5.9      16.2         4.9           0.54              0.06                 0.12                    0.48                       1.2                         0.054                            --                              Bal.152   34.7    5.9      16.0         4.9           0.32              0.23                 -- 0.36                       0.9                         0.050                            --                              Bal.153   34.4    6.0      16.0         5.0           0.64              -- -- 0.52                       1.2                         0.053                            --                              Bal.154   34.3    6.0      16.2         5.0           1.30              0.15                 0.48                    0.15                       1.1                         0.065                            --                              Bal.155   34.6    5.9      16.2         5.3           0.54              -- 0.86                    0.75                       1.1                         0.065                            --                              Bal.156   34.4    5.9      16.0         5.1           -- 1.70                 0.57                    -- 1.2                         0.066                            --                              Bal.157   34.7    5.8      16.2         5.1           3.70              0.09                 0.23                    0.46                       0.9                         0.093                            --                              Bal.158   34.5    5.9      16.2         5.1           -- 1.9                 1.7                    1.2                       1.1                         0.096                            --                              Bal.159   34.3    6.1      16.1         5.2           -- 2.5                 -- 2.0                       0.9                         0.093                            --                              Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 22______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________145     0.19      0.20      414     2146     0.21      0.20      415     2147     0.20      0.20      412     2148     0.17      0.18      419     5149     0.18      0.18      420     5150     0.19      0.18      420     5151     0.20      0.18      418     3152     0.18      0.18      418     4153     0.18      0.18      419     3154     0.20      0.18      416     2155     0.18      0.20      417     2156     0.19      0.20      417     2157     0.24      0.23      411     2158     0.23      0.22      411     2159     0.24      0.23      412     2______________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE 23__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)              Rare Earth Elements                               Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V   La                Ce                  Pr                    Nd Hf                         H  O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________COM-8 23.8    12.5       24.1          Cr: 22.9              3.8                --                  --                    -- --                         -- -- Bal.160   25.1    6.0       16.1          5.3 3.1                --                  --                    -- --                         0.085                            1.15                               Bal.161   30.8    6.1       15.9          5.3 --                3.3                  --                    -- --                         0.087                            1.15                               Bal.162   34.5    6.1       16.1          5.0 3 --                  --                    -- --                         0.085                            1.09                               Bal.163   36.9    5.3       16.3          4.8 1.6                1.4                  --                    -- --                         0.082                            1.12                               Bal.164   40.2    5.9       16.0          4.9 --                3 --                    -- --                         0.085                            1.10                               Bal.165   44.7    5.3       15.9          4.8 1.9                0.8                  --                    -- --                         0.082                            1.09                               Bal.166   35.0    1.1       15.9          5.1 1.6                1.4                  --                    -- --                         0.085                            1.10                               Bal.167   34.5    4.0       16.2          4.8 --                3 --                    -- --                         0.085                            1.09                               Bal.168   34.2    9.8       15.8          5.1 3.1                --                  --                    -- --                         0.084                            1.13                               Bal.169   34.8    11.9       16.1          4.9 1.8                0.9                  --                    -- --                         0.082                            1.09                               Bal.170   34.2    5.9       10.4          4.9 3 --                  --                    -- --                         0.082                            1.03                               Bal.171   34.2    5.8       15.4          5.0 --                3.1                  --                    -- --                         0.085                            1.08                               Bal.172   34.1    5.9       17.3          4.9 --                3.5                  --                    -- --                         0.089                            1.15                               Bal.173   34.4    6.1       19.5          5.1 1.9                0.8                  --                    -- --                         0.079                            0.98                               Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ COM: Comparative Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 24______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________COM-8   0.07      0.07      349     18160     0.19      0.20      382     2161     0.18      0.18      404     2162     0.20      0.19      411     2163     0.19      0.20      411     2164     0.20      0.21      411     2165     0.21      0.21      402     2166     0.20      0.20      394     2167     0.21      0.20      406     2168     0.20      0.21      404     2169     0.21      0.21      394     2170     0.20      0.19      400     2171     0.19      0.19      410     2172     0.20      0.20      407     2173     0.13      0.17      402     2______________________________________ COM: Comparative 
    
     
                                           TABLE 25__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)              Rare Earth Elements                                Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V   La Ce Pr                      Nd                        Hf                          H  O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________174   34.5    5.9       16.1          2.0 2.9                 -- --                      --                        --                          0.085                             1.09                                Bal.175   34.3    5.9       15.8          3.0 1.5                 1.5                    --                      --                        --                          0.082                             1.00                                Bal.176   34.3    6.0       16.0          7.8 -- 3  --                      --                        --                          0.087                             1.10                                Bal.177   34.4    6.1       15.9          11.7              1.8                 0.9                    --                      --                        --                          0.083                             1.10                                Bal.178   34.7    6.0       16.0          4.5 0.51                 -- --                      --                        --                          0.015                             0.35                                Bal.179   34.7    5.9       15.8          2.8 -- 0.59                    --                      --                        --                          0.019                             0.38                                Bal.180   34.8    6.1       16.1          4.9 2  -- --                      --                        --                          0.062                             0.75                                Bal.181   34.9    5.9       15.9          5.1 -- 5  --                      --                        --                          0.107                             1.58                                Bal.182   34.7    6.2       16.2          4.9 2.5                 2.2                    --                      --                        --                          0.099                             1.49                                Bal.COM-9 23.8    12.5       24.1          Cr: 22.9              3.8                 -- --                      --                        --                          -- -- Bal.183   25.1    5.8       15.9          5.2 1.7                 1.6                    --                      --                        1.4                          0.097                             1.10                                Bal.184   30.3    5.9       16.1          4.9 1.8                 1.7                    --                      --                        1.4                          0.101                             1.16                                Bal.185   34.1    6.0       16.0          5.1 3.2                 -- --                      --                        1.3                          0.095                             1.08                                Bal.186   36.7    5.2       16.2          5.0 1  2.4                    --                      --                        1.5                          0.099                             1.14                                Bal.187   39.8    5.9       16.1          5.2 -- 3.4                    --                      --                        1.3                          0.103                             1.15                                Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ COM: Comparative Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 26______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________174     0.21      0.20      394     2175     0.20      0.20      401     2176     0.19      0.20      413     2177     0.21      0.20      397     2178     0.17      0.18      414     5179     0.18      0.17      405     5180     0.19      0.18      413     2181     0.20      0.20      408     2182     0.22      0.22      407     2COM-9   0.07      0.07      349     18183     0.18      0.20      386     2184     0.18      0.19      405     2185     0.19      0.18      415     2186     0.19      0.19      415     2187     0.18      0.19      416     2______________________________________ COM: Comparative 
    
     
                                           TABLE 27__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)             Rare Earth Elements                              Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V  La Ce                  Pr                    Nd                      Hf                        H  O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________188   44.8    4.9       14.8          4.5             1.6                1.5                  --                    --                      1.2                        0.091                           1.05                              Bal.189   34.2    1.2       16.1          5.0             -- 3.4                  --                    --                      1.3                        0.100                           1.10                              Bal.190   34.1    4.0       16.1          5.1             1.8                1.7                  --                    --                      1.5                        0.105                           1.10                              Bal.191   34.4    10.3       15.9          5.3             2.4                1 --                    --                      1.4                        0.102                           1.10                              Bal.192   34.3    12.0       15.9          5.2             3.1                --                  --                    --                      1.3                        0.098                           1.05                              Bal.193   34.1    6.5       10.5          5.5             2.4                1 --                    --                      1.2                        0.102                           1.04                              Bal.194   34.5    5.5       14.3          4.9             3.3                --                  --                    --                      1.3                        0.101                           1.03                              Bal.195   33.8    6.0       19.8          5.2             -- 3.2                  --                    --                      1.4                        0.098                           1.02                              Bal.196   34.7    5.6       15.7          2.2             3.2                --                  --                    --                      1.4                        0.099                           1.11                              Bal.197   33.5    6.1       16.3          8.2             -- 3.3                  --                    --                      1.2                        0.101                           1.13                              Bal.198   33.9    6.2       16.1          11.7             2.2                1.1                  --                    --                      1.3                        0.102                           1.14                              Bal.199   34.3    5.9       15.9          5.1             0.51                --                  --                    --                      1.3                        0.021                           0.31                              Bal.200   34.6    6.0       16.2          5.0             2  --                  --                    --                      1.4                        0.075                           0.75                              Bal.201   34.2    6.1       16.1          4.9             4.5                --                  --                    --                      1.5                        0.169                           2.27                              Bal.202   34.1    6.1       16.0          4.9             -- 0.5                  --                    --                      1.3                        0.023                           0.30                              Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 28______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________188     0.19      0.20      403     2189     0.19      0.20      397     2190     0.20      0.20      411     2191     0.20      0.19      407     2192     0.19      0.19      397     2193     0.19      0.18      406     2194     0.18      0.19      414     2195     0.19      0.19      404     2196     0.16      0.11      400     2197     0.18      0.18      415     2198     0.19      0.20      399     2199     0.18      0.18      420     5200     0.19      0.20      417     2201     0.23      0.24      412     2202     0.18      0.18      419     5______________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE 29__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)           Rare Earth Elements  Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti      Mn V La Ce Pr Nd Hf H  O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________203   34.8    5.9      15.9         5.0           -- 1.9                 -- -- 1.4                          0.073                             0.73                                Bal.204   34.4    6.2      15.8         5.1           -- 4.8                 -- -- 1.2                          0.173                             2.32                                Bal.205   34.3    5.8      16.0         5.0           0.9              1.3                 -- -- 0.11                          0.078                             0.81                                Bal.206   34.5    6.0      16.1         4.8           3  -- -- -- 0.12                          0.092                             1.03                                Bal.207   34.5    6.1      16.3         4.7           -- 2.9                 -- -- 0.6                          0.090                             0.99                                Bal.208   34.6    5.9      15.7         4.9           1.6              1.5                 -- -- 0.61                          0.094                             1.05                                Bal.209   34.2    6.0      15.9         5.1           2.9              -- -- -- 1.91                          0.091                             1.01                                Bal.210   34.3    5.9      16.2         5.0           -- 3  -- -- 3.2                          0.091                             1.02                                Bal.211   34.6    6.1      16.0         5.1           1.3              1.1                 -- -- 4  0.081                             0.86                                Bal.212   34.4    6.2      16.0         4.8           0.13              0.26                 0.03                    0.09                       1.1                          0.039                             0.35                                Bal.213   34.3    5.8      16.1         5.2           0.21              0.18                 0.13                    -- 1  0.039                             0.34                                Bal.214   34.5    6.1      15.8         5.1           0.28              -- 0.23                    -- 1.2                          0.039                             0.34                                Bal.215   34.7    6.2      15.9         4.9           0.53              0.06                 0.12                    0.47                       1.2                          0.050                             0.53                                Bal.216   34.4    5.9      16.1         5.3           0.35              0.25                 -- 0.4                       1  0.047                             0.47                                Bal.217   34.6    6.1      15.8         5.1           0.58              -- -- 0.47                       1.1                          0.048                             0.49                                Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 30______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________203     0.18      0.19      418     3204     0.22      0.24      412     2205     0.18      0.19      413     2206     0.19      0.19      411     2207     0.18      0.20      412     2208     0.18      0.19      413     2209     0.19      0.20      416     2210     0.19      0.19      414     2211     0.20      0.19      413     2212     0.18      0.18      419     5213     0.17      0.18      420     5214     0.18      0.18      420     5215     0.19      0.19      419     3216     0.19      0.19      419     4217     0.18      0.17      419     3______________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE 31__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)              Rare Earth Elements Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V   La Ce Pr Nd Hf                            H  O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________218   34.3    6.1       16.0          5.1 1.4                 0.16                    0.49                       0.16                          1.1                            0.069                               0.82                                  Bal.219   34.7    5.9       16.0          5.0 0.56                 -- 0.89                       0.78                          1.1                            0.068                               0.81                                  Bal.220   34.5    5.8       16.1          5.2 -- 1.6                    0.56                       -- 1.1                            0.069                               0.82                                  Bal.221   34.3    5.9       16.0          4.8 3.7                 0.09                    0.24                       0.47                          1 0.111                               1.50                                  Bal.222   34.6    5.9       16.2          5.1 -- 1.9                    1.6                       1.1                          1.1                            0.112                               1.51                                  Bal.223   34.6    6.0       16.1          4.9 -- 2.5                    -- 2.1                          1 0.110                               1.49                                  Bal.COM-10 23.8    12.5       24.1          Cr: 22.9              3.8                 -- -- -- --                            -- -- Bal.224   25.5    6.2       16.0          4.9 1.0                 2.1                    -- -- --                            -- 0.61                                  Bal.225   29.2    5.8       15.9          5.0 -- 3.1                    -- -- --                            -- 0.65                                  Bal.226   34.7    5.9       15.8          4.8 3.3                 -- -- -- --                            -- 0.65                                  Bal.227   36.7    5.4       16.1          5.1 1.4                 1.7                    -- -- --                            -- 0.61                                  Bal.228   40.9    5.7       15.5          5.2 1.7                 1.4                    -- -- --                            -- 0.62                                  Bal.229   44.9    6.0       15.7          4.5 2.0                 1.1                    -- -- --                            -- 0.62                                  Bal.230   34.8    1.2       16.1          4.8 -- 3.1                    -- -- --                            -- 0.62                                  Bal.231   34.5    7.5       15.7          4.6 2.1                 1.0                    -- -- --                            -- 0.63                                  Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ COM: Comparative Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 32______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________218     0.19      0.18      416     2219     0.18      0.19      416     2220     0.19      0.19      417     2221     0.23      0.23      411     2222     0.24      0.24      412     2223     0.23      0.23      411     2COM-10  0.07      0.07      349     18224     0.18      0.18      383     2225     0.18      0.19      399     2226     0.19      0.21      410     2227     0.21      0.20      412     2228     0.20      0.21      411     2229     0.19      0.18      400     2230     0.21      0.20      393     2231     0.20      0.20      409     2______________________________________ COM: Comparative 
    
     
                                           TABLE 33__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)             Rare Earth Elements                              Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V  La Ce Pr                     Nd                       Hf                         H O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________232   34.7    10.8       15.9          5.2             3.0                -- --                     --                       --                         --                           0.60                              Bal.233   34.7    12.0       15.8          5.0             1.6                1.5                   --                     --                       --                         --                           0.60                              Bal.234   34.5    6.1       10.1          5.2             -- 2.7                   --                     --                       --                         --                           0.57                              Bal.235   34.7    6.2       15.2          4.8             3.1                -- --                     --                       --                         --                           0.62                              Bal.236   34.8    6.1       17.9          4.9             -- 3.5                   --                     --                       --                         --                           0.70                              Bal.237   34.7    5.9       19.9          5.2             2.1                0.7                   --                     --                       --                         --                           0.59                              Bal.238   34.8    6.0       15.9          2.1             -- 3.0                   --                     --                       --                         --                           0.62                              Bal.239   34.9    6.1       15.9          2.7             1.5                1.4                   --                     --                       --                         --                           0.59                              Bal.240   34.7    5.7       15.5          7.5             1.4                1.7                   --                     --                       --                         --                           0.63                              Bal.241   35.0    5.9       15.7          11.8             2.9                -- --                     --                       --                         --                           0.61                              Bal.242   34.2    6.0       16.3          4.8             0.56                -- --                     --                       --                         --                           0.28                              Bal.243   34.1    5.9       15.9          5.1             -- 0.59                   --                     --                       --                         --                           0.29                              Bal.244   34.6    6.1       15.8          5.0             2.2                -- --                     --                       --                         --                           0.47                              Bal.245   34.5    6.2       16.2          5.1             -- 5.0                   --                     --                       --                         --                           0.91                              Bal.246   34.7    5.8       16.1          4.9             2.6                2.4                   --                     --                       --                         --                           0.85                              Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 34______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________232     0.19      0.20      401     2233     0.20      0.21      393     2234     0.19      0.20      401     2235     0.19      0.20      411     2236     0.19      0.20      406     2237     0.16      0.18      400     2238     0.19      0.20      395     2239     0.18      0.18      400     2240     0.21      0.20      414     2241     0.20      0.20      396     2242     0.16      0.15      414     5243     0.17      0.17      415     5244     0.19      0.19      413     2245     0.21      0.20      407     2246     0.21      0.21      406     2______________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE 35__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)              Rare Earth Elements                              Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V   La                Ce                  Pr                    Nd Hf                         H O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________COM-11 23.8    12.5       24.1          Cr: 22.9              3.8                --                  --                    -- --                         --                           -- Bal.247   25.4    5.5       16.5          5.2 --                3.1                  --                    -- 1.2                         --                           0.69                              Bal.248   29.8    6.0       16.3          4.9 1.8                1.6                  --                    -- 1.3                         --                           0.67                              Bal.249   34.2    5.9       16.2          5.0 3.3                --                  --                    -- 1.4                         --                           0.66                              Bal.250   36.1    5.2       16.2          4.8 1.6                2.0                  --                    -- 1.4                         --                           0.70                              Bal.251   39.9    5.4       16.4          5.1 --                3.2                  --                    -- 1.3                         --                           0.68                              Bal.252   44.7    5.2       15.5          4.7 3.0                --                  --                    -- 1.2                         --                           0.65                              Bal.253   34.8    1.1       16.0          4.4 1.8                1.6                  --                    -- 1.4                         --                           0.68                              Bal.254   34.2    4.1       16.5          5.7 --                3.0                  --                    -- 1.2                         --                           0.66                              Bal.255   34.5    10.1       16.1          4.7 3.1                --                  --                    -- 1.2                         --                           0.62                              Bal.256   34.7    11.8       15.7          5.1 1.6                2.1                  --                    -- 1.3                         --                           0.67                              Bal.257   34.3    6.2       10.3          5.3 3.4                --                  --                    -- 1.4                         --                           0.66                              Bal.258   34.5    6.0       17.6          5.1 --                3.l                  --                    -- 1.3                         --                           0.65                              Bal.259   34.4    6.1       19.5          5.0 1.8                1.5                  --                    -- 1.5                         --                           0.65                              Bal.260   34.5    5.8       15.9          2.1 --                3.2                  --                    -- 1.4                         --                           0.64                              Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ COM: Comparative Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 36______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________COM-11  0.07      0.07      349     18247     0.20      0.19      387     2248     0.19      0.20      404     2249     0.19      0.18      414     2250     0.20      0.20      414     2251     0.20      0.21      415     2252     0.21      0.21      405     2253     0.18      0.19      395     2254     0.20      0.19      412     2255     0.19      0.20      406     2256     0.20      0.20      398     2257     0.19      0.19      405     2258     0.20      0.20      412     2259     0.19      0.19      405     2260     0.17      0.17      399     2______________________________________ COM: Comparative 
    
     
                                           TABLE 37__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)            Rare Earth Elements                             Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti      Mn V  La Ce                 Pr                   Nd                     Hf H O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________261   34.6    6.0      16.0         8.2            3.2               --                 --                   --                     1.5                        --                          0.64                             Bal.262   34.5    6.1      15.9         11.5            1.5               1.6                 --                   --                     1.3                        --                          0.63                             Bal.263   34.5    6.3      16.7         5.5            0.51               --                 --                   --                     1.2                        --                          0.60                             Bal.264   34.5    6.0      16.3         5.1            2.3               --                 --                   --                     1.3                        --                          0.52                             Bal.265   34.4    6.1      15.9         5.1            4.9               --                 --                   --                     1.4                        --                          1.31                             Bal.266   35.0    5.9      16.2         4.5            -- 0.5                 --                   --                     1.4                        --                          0.61                             Bal.267   34.5    6.2      16.0         5.1            -- 1.9                 --                   --                     1.3                        --                          0.47                             Bal.268   34.3    5.8      15.7         4.8            -- 4.6                 --                   --                     1.5                        --                          1.25                             Bal.269   34.2    5.9      15.9         5.0            0.85               1.2                 --                   --                     0.13                        --                          0.48                             Bal.270   34.6    5.8      15.9         5.1            3.2               --                 --                   --                     0.12                        --                          0.64                             Bal.271   34.7    6.0      16.1         4.8            -- 3.0                 --                   --                     0.58                        --                          0.61                             Bal.272   34.4    6.2      16.0         4.7            1.7               1.4                 --                   --                     0.6                        --                          0.63                             Bal.273   34.2    6.1      16.2         4.8            3.3               --                 --                   --                     1.9                        --                          0.65                             Bal.274   34.5    5.7      15.7         5.5            1.8               1.6                 --                   --                     3.2                        --                          0.64                             Bal.275   35.0    6.3      16.5         4.5            -- 3.3                 --                   --                     3.9                        --                          0.64                             Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 38______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________261     0.18      0.19      417     2262     0.20      0.20      402     2263     0.18      0.19      421     5264     0.19      0.19      417     2265     0.24      0.24      412     2266     0.19      0.18      419     5267     0.18      0.20      418     3268     0.23      0.24      411     2269     0.18      0.18      413     2270     0.18      0.20      411     2271     0.19      0.19      413     2272     0.20      0.20      412     2273     0.20      0.19      414     2274     0.20      0.21      415     2275     0.21      0.20      409     2______________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE 39__________________________________________________________________________Component Composition (wt %)              Rare Earth Elements                                 Ni +Sample No. Zr Ti Mn V   La Ce Pr Nd Hf                            H O  impurity__________________________________________________________________________276   34.7    5.9       16.0          5.1 0.13                 0.26                    0.03                       0.09                          0.9                            --                              0.27                                 Bal.277   34.6    5.8       16.0          4.8 0.21                 0.18                    0.13                       -- 1.1                            --                              0.27                                 Bal.278   34.3    6.1       15.8          5.0 0.28                 -- 0.23                       -- 1.0                            --                              0.27                                 Bal.279   34.2    6.1       16.1          5.1 0.45                 0.05                    0.10                       0.40                          1.0                            --                              0.34                                 Bal.280   34.7    6.1       15.9          5.2 0.32                 0.23                    -- 0.30                          0.9                            --                              0.33                                 Bal.281   34.2    5.9       16.2          5.0 0.60                 -- -- 0.49                          1.1                            --                              0.35                                 Bal.282   34.4    6.0       15.9          5.1 1.30                 0.15                    0.48                       0.15                          1.1                            --                              0.50                                 Bal.283   34.6    5.9       16.0          5.0 0.50                 -- 0.81                       0.70                          0.9                            --                              0.48                                 Bal.284   34.4    5.9       16.0          4.9 -- 1.6                    0.54                       -- 1.1                            --                              0.50                                 Bal.285   34.6    5.8       16.0          5.1 3.7                 0.09                    0.23                       0.47                          1.0                            --                              0.85                                 Bal.286   34.3    6.1       15.8          4.9 -- 1.9                    1.7                       1.2                          1.1                            --                              0.87                                 Bal.287   34.6    5.9       15.8          5.1 -- 2.6                    -- 2.1                          1.0                            --                              0.85                                 Bal.COM-12 23.8    12.5       24.1          Cr: 22.9              3.8                 -- -- -- --                            --                              -- Bal.__________________________________________________________________________ COM: Comparative Bal.: Balance 
    
     
                       TABLE 40______________________________________   Hydrogen  Hydrogen  Electric   Absorption             Discharge Discharge                               Electric Charge   Speed     Speed     Capacity                               and DischargeSample No.   (wt %/SEC)             (wt %/SEC)                       (mAh/g) Cycles (time)______________________________________276     0.19      0.17      420     5277     0.18      0.17      419     5278     0.18      0.17      419     5279     0.17      0.19      418     4280     0.18      0.18      420     4281     0.18      0.18      418     3282     0.19      0.19      417     2283     0.20      0.19      416     2284     0.21      0.21      416     2285     0.23      0.22      412     2286     0.22      0.24      411     2287     0.24      0.23      412     2COM-12  0.07      0.07      349     18______________________________________ COM: Comparative