Phase structures and electrochemical properties of the laser sintered LaNi5-x wt.% Mg2Ni composites

The LaNi5-x wt.% Mg2Ni (x=10, 20 and 30) composites were fabricated by a new sintering method. The phase structures and electrochemical properties of the laser sintered LaNi5-Mg2Ni composites were studied. It was found that LaNi5-10 wt.% Mg2Ni consists of a major phase (PuNi3-type) and a secondary phase (LaNi5). The LaN5 bars distribute along the laser scan direction. Besides a small amount of LaNi5 and MgNi2, there are LaNi4Mg and LaMg2Ni9 phases in the samples with x = 20 and 30. These samples with x=20 and 30 showed that the LaNi5 cores are surrounded by the shells of LaNi4Mg, LaMg2Ni9 and MgNi2. These ternary La-Mg-Ni phases and microstructures influence the electrochemical properties of the LaNi5-Mg2Ni composites.