HYDROGEN STORAGE ALLOY AND HYDROGEN STORAGE UNIT USING SAME

A hydrogen storage alloy comprises a hydrogen storage base 2 formed of a mixture of Mg and an alloy (Mg 2 Ni, for example), and a catalytic layer 3 covering a surface of the hydrogen storage base 2. The hydrogen storage alloy with this structure exhibits both a high ability to store hydrogen and a high ability to cause hydrogen to diffuse in it in the solid state, provided by Mg and Mg 2 Ni, respectively. Hydrogen absorbed in Mg in one region is passed on to Mg (or Mg 2 Ni) in another region by virtue of Mg 2 Ni. Since this movement of hydrogen does not require heat nor pressure, hydrogen can be absorbed at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.