Abstract
This study investigates the electrochemical characteristics of nanostructured LaNi5 intermetallic synthesized via the sol-gel method for application as an anode material in nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. A comparison with a commercial counterpart produced by fusion synthesis with mechanical grinding revealed that the nanostructured material, with primary particle sizes of 300–700 nm, exhibits significantly improved kinetic properties, including reduced charge transfer resistance and more efficient mass transport. The synthesized LaNi5 demonstrates rapid activation, reaching a maximum capacity of 180 mAh/g by the 5th cycle, although degradation to 130 mAh/g is observed by the 50th cycle. In contrast, the commercial sample exhibits slow activation, with a gradual capacity increase to 190 mAh/g followed by stabilization. This discrepancy between enhanced kinetic properties and cycle stability in the nanostructured material presents a promising direction for optimizing anode materials in Ni-MH batteries.