Abstract: The disclosure relates to a hydrogen storage material composed of a Ti-Mn-M alloy in which M represents at least one metal selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper and molybdenum, and which defines an alloy phase of a Laves phase having a hexagonal crystal structure of MgZn.sub.2 (C.sub.14) type and crystal lattice parameters a=4.86.about.4.90A and C=7.95.about.8.02A. The hydrogen storage material is economical and suited to practical purposes, since it readily absorbs a large amount of hydrogen at room temperature and reversibly discharges a large amount of hydrogen with safety through variations of ambient hydrogen pressure, temperature conditions or electro-chemical conditions.

Abstract: An economical metallic material for storage of hydrogen comprising an alloy representable by the formula AB.alpha. in which "A" comprises from 50 to under 100 atomic percent of titanium and the remainder which is at least one element selected from the group I consisting of zirconium and hafnium, B comprises from 30 to below 100 atomic percent of manganese and the remainder which is at least one element selected from the group II consisting of chromium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, molybdenum, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper and rare earth elements, and .alpha. is a value indicating a ratio of B to A, and is in the range of 1.0 to 3.0.The materials of the invention very easily absorb large amounts of hydrogen and efficiently release it at other predetermined temperatures, pressures and electrochemical conditions, whereby it is able to store hydrogen safely, usefully and economically.

Abstract: An economical metallic material for storage of hydrogen constituted by an intermetallic compound which exists as a Laves phase, has a hexagonal crystal structure of the MgZn.sub.2 type (C14 type), and in which the crystal lattice parameters a and c are in the ranges a= 4.80.about. 5.10 (A) and c= 7.88.about. 8.28 (A). The material of the inventon permits absorption of large amounts of hydrogen and efficient desorption thereof under close to normal temperature and pressure conditions, and for reduced cost of material preferably includes as principal components manganese and at least titanium or zirconium.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method of making a hydrogen storage alloy comprising the steps of: preparing an alloy having, as main elements, 37 to 42 atomic percent of titanium and 58 to 63 atomic percent of manganese, which alloy is produced directly in an argon arc furnace or an induction furnace; heating the prepared alloy in an electric furnace at a high temperature below the melting temperature of the alloy under vacuum or an inert atmosphere; and cooling the heated alloy down to room temperature. The method of the present invention allows the alloy to have a homogeneous single phase, thereby providing an alloy with excellent hydrogen storage characteristics.