Revisiting Mg–Mg2Ni System from Electronic Perspective

• Main Authors: Zhao Qian, Weimin Guo, Guanzhong Jiang, Shaokun Xu, Rajeev Ahuja, Xiangfa Liu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017-11-01
• Series: Metals
• Subjects: magnesium; electronic properties; electronic structures; DFT
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/7/11/489

Both Mg and Mg2Ni are promising electrode materials in conversion-type secondary batteries. Earlier studies have shown their single-phase prospects in electro-devices, while in this work, we have quantitatively reported the electronic properties of their dual-phase materials, that is, Mg–Mg2Ni alloys, and analyzed the underlying reasons behind the property changes of materials. The hypoeutectic Mg–Mg2Ni alloys are found to be evidently more conductive than the hypereutectic Mg–Mg2Ni system. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations give the intrinsic origin of electronic structures of both Mg2Ni and Mg. The morphology of quasi-nanoscale eutectics is another factor that can affect the electronic properties of the investigated alloy system; that is, the electrical property change of the investigated alloys system is due to a combination of the intrinsic property difference between the two constituting phases and the change of eutectic microstructures that affect electron scattering. In addition, regarding the Mg–Mg2Ni alloy design for device applications, the electronic property and mechanical aspect should be well balanced.