Open AccessPalladium mixed-metal surface-modified AB<sub>5</sub>-type intermetallides enhance hydrogen sorption kinetics
Author(s) -
M. Williams,
M.V. Lototsky,
Alexander Nechaev,
V. A. Yartys,
Jan Ketil Solberg,
R.V. Denys,
Vladimir Linkov
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
south african journal of science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.317
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1996-7489
pISSN - 0038-2353
DOI - 10.4102/sajs.v106i9/10.310
Subject(s) - palladium , hydrogen , hydrogen storage , kinetics , nickel , sorption , metal , chemical engineering , materials science , catalysis , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , metallurgy , adsorption , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Surface engineering approaches were adopted in the preparation of advanced hydrogen sorption materials, based on ‘low-temperature’, AB5-type intermetallides. The approaches investigated included micro-encapsulation with palladium and mixed-metal mantles using electroless plating. The influence of micro-encapsulation on the surface morphology and kinetics of hydrogen charging were investigated. It was found that palladium-nickel (Pd-Ni) co-deposition by electroless plating significantly improved the kinetics of hydrogen charging of the AB5-type intermetallides at low hydrogen pressure and temperature, after long-term pre-exposure to air. The improvement in the kinetics of hydrogen charging was credited to a synergistic effect between the palladium and nickel atoms in the catalytic mantle and the formation of an ‘interfacial bridge’ for hydrogen diffusion by the nickel atoms in the deposited layer. The developed surface-modified materials may find application in highly selective hydrogen extraction, purification, and storage from impure hydrogen feeds