Structural and electrochemical properties of amorphous rich MgxNi100-x nanomaterial obtained by mechanical alloying

Using a planetary ball mill and starting from a mixture of Mg2Ni and Ni with a Mg atomic content ranging from 40 to 60 at.%, we have elaborated amorphous phase alloys with little quantities of residual Ni. The synthesis of the amorphous phase proceeded at 6.49 W g(-1) shock power, for milling durations ranging from 8 to 10 h for Mg40Ni60 and Mg60Ni40, samples, respectively. The best electrochemical capacity (470 mAh g(-1), equivalent of MgNiH2.0) was obtained for the Mg50Ni50 sample synthesized in milling duration 10 times shorter than that commonly reported in the literature. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.