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Vanadium-Doped Magnesium-Nickel Alloy: Giving Hydrogen Storage Materials an "Accelerator"

Magnesium-nickel alloys have attracted considerable attention for their high hydrogen storage capacity and low cost, but their slow hydrogen absorption and desorption have limited their application. The addition of vanadium addresses this pain point. Research from the Academy of Military Sciences has found that vanadium, as a solid solution catalyst, can significantly lower the dissociation energy barrier of hydrogen molecules, significantly increasing the diffusion rate of hydrogen atoms.

In the (Mg₂Ni)₉V₁ alloy, vanadium's catalytic effect is particularly prominent. At 573K, it can absorb 5.4wt% hydrogen within 10 minutes and reach over 90% hydrogen saturation within 30 seconds. Vanadium does not directly form hydrides, but rather weakens hydrogen bonds by modifying the alloy's electronic environment. Its content allows for precise control of performance—excessive vanadium content actually reduces capacity, a feature that allows engineers to tailor the material to their needs. This vanadium-doped alloy represents a key step towards the practical application of magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials in transportation, energy storage, and other applications.