Author(s)

Kai Deng ¹, Jidong Li ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ School of Materials and Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Liaoning, Anshan, 114051, China

Corresponding Author

Jidong Li

ABSTRACT

Mg₂Ni alloy is a promising hydrogen storage material owing to its high capacity, abundant raw materials and low cost, yet its practical application is hindered by large grain size, poor hydrogen absorption/desorption kinetics and inferior cyclic stability. In this work, Mg₂Ni alloys were fabricated via high-energy ball milling, with milling time and ball-to-powder ratio as variables. Their phase composition and grain size were characterized by XRD and TEM, while hydrogen storage cyclic stability was tested using a Sieverts-type system. Results indicate that grain size decreases significantly with extended milling time and increased ball-to-powder ratio, with both parameters exhibiting a critical value (30 h, 30:1). Beyond this threshold, grain size stabilizes and excessive parameters cause particle agglomeration. Within a certain range, cyclic stability correlates positively with grain refinement degree. The alloy prepared under optimal parameters (30 h, 30:1) achieves a minimum grain size of 18.2 nm, retaining a reversible hydrogen storage capacity of 2.98 wt% (82.1% retention rate) after 50 cycles—significantly higher than that of alloys under other parameters. This enhanced cyclic stability is mainly attributed to the refined grain structure, which alleviates internal stress during hydrogen absorption/desorption and inhibits alloy pulverization and oxidation. This study provides theoretical and technical support for optimizing ball milling processes and improving the comprehensive hydrogen storage performance of Mg-Ni alloys.

KEYWORDS

Mg-Ni Alloy; Ball Milling Time; Ball-To-Powder Ratio; Grain Size; Hydrogen Storage Cyclic Stability

CITE THIS PAPER

Kai Deng, Jidong Li. Regulation of Ball Milling Time and Ball-to-Powder Ratio on Grain Size and Hydrogen Storage Cyclic Stability of Mg-Ni Alloys. Journal of Materials, Processing and Design (2026). Vol. 10, No.1, 35-42. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/jmpd.2026.100105.

REFERENCES

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