LAUSR

Abstract ZrCr1-xNiMox (x = 0.0, 0.3 and 0.6 corresponding to 0, 13 and 25% w/w Mo content respectively) alloys with initial particle sizes of 38–63 μm and 63–125 μm were studied. Alloys were characterized by X-ray diffraction, revealing that molybdenum substitution by chromium produces the segregation of ZrxNiy phases, ZrCr2 and ZrMo2 Laves phases. Electrodes with 13% of molybdenum depicted the highest discharge capacity of 300 mA h g−1. In all cases, the smallest initial particle size exhibited the highest hydrogen storage capacity. On the other hand, the increase of nickel content in the composition of the secondary phase (Zr7Ni10 comparing to Zr9Ni11) leds to an improvement in high rate discharge ability behavior. Hydrogen evolution reaction analysis showed that electrodes with 13% of molybdenum described the largest current intensities. The reaction rds was related to the type of secondary phase dominant in each sample, whereas self-discharge behavior was associated to the presence of molybdenum phases. Thereby, the alloy with 13% weight in molybdenum was the one which improves electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen storage purposes.