A type of composite powder was prepared by ball-milling Zr0.5Ti0.5V0.75Ni1.
25 alloy with a small amount of (2. wt%) nanocrystalline LaNi5 which was sy
nthesized by mechanical alloying. SEM and EDX results show that the surface
of Zr0.5Ti0.5V0.75Ni1.25 alloy was coated with fine nanocrystalline LaNi5
particles after ball-milling. Electrochemical measurement revealed that ele
ctrochemical activity of this composite powder was higher than that of as-c
ast Zr0.5Ti0.5V0.75Ni1.25 powder. The mechanism of this improvement was als
o discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.