Sorption and desorption of hydrogen in the alloys based on the ErNi^sub 2^ compound

We study the process of formation of pseudobinary Laves phases on the basis of the ErNi^sub 2^ compound realized as a result of the substitution of Y for Er and V for Ni and determine the hydrogen-sorption properties of these phases. The crystal structures of the original compounds and their saturated hydrides are investigated by the X-ray diffraction method. It is shown that these compounds absorb hydrogen under a pressure of 0.1-0.12 MPa without amorphization. The maximum hydrogen-sorption capacity (3.4 at. H/f.u.) is obtained for the Er^sub 0.85^Y^sub 0.15^Ni^sub 2^ compound. The thermal stability of hydrides is determined by the method of thermodesorption spectroscopy in gaseous hydrogen at a heating rate of 5°C / min. An insignificant substitution o Y for Er and V for Ni improves the parameters of hydrogen sorption and desorption for these compounds.