Fabrication and Deuterium Absorption Performances of V-Ni Alloys

A group of V_100－xNi_x(x ＝0.5,1.0,2.0,4.1,8.3) alloys were fabricated by induction melting. The structures of alloys were characterized by XRD and ICP-AES. The result of the alloys for structure characters shows that all of the alloys are solid solution with bcc structures and single phases. At room temperature and 1.0 MPa deuterium pressure, the alloys deuterium absorption properties were test. As it turned out, doping a little of Ni could improve the properties of activation and kinetics of vanadium. The alloys absorb deuterium rapidly and largely at first activation. With the increase of Ni content from 0.5% (atom fraction) to 1.0%, the deuterium saturation capacity for both first-time activation and complete activation increases step by step, but when Ni content is over 4.1%, it decreases clearly only for 50% of ideal value. The alloys have the best performances with rapidly and largely deuterium absorption when Ni content is 1.0%. The samples structure was detected by XRD after activation and outgassing. The alloy phase is changed with manifold cycles and high temperature treatment when Ni content is 8.3%, which affects the activation properties. The results could provide the foundation of application for the materials.