To provide a surface activating method for a hydrogen storage alloy without requiring wastewater treatment by eliminating an inactive layer from the surface of the hydrogen storage alloy and forming a metal-rich activated layer.
This is a method to activate the surface of a hydrogen storage alloy by bringing steam into contact with the hydrogen storage alloy and causing surface reaction in a temperature range higher than 200°C and lower than 400°C. A range from 200°C to 400°C is selected as the temperature range in which steam should contacts with the hydrogen storage alloy. Consequently, contact decomposition of water on Mm metals, e.g. La, Mn, and Al is caused to convert these metals into hydroxides and at the same time Ni compounds are reduced by generated hydrogen to produce Ni alloy having catalytic activity. Another gas as a carrier and a diluting gas may be mixed with steam. The method is especially suitable for activation treatment of a hydrogen storage alloy for an anode active material for a battery.
ITO KAZUHIKO
YAMAKAWA SHUNSUKE
ABE KATSUJI
OYA YUTAKA
MORISHITA SHINYA
KAWASE YASUSHI
TOYODA AUTOMATIC LOOM WORKS