In-situ neutron diffraction study of magnesium amide/lithium hydride stoichiometric mixtures with lithium hydride excess

The hydrogen sorption of mixtures of magnesium amide (Mg(NH(2))(2)) and lithium hydride (LiH) with different molecular ratios have been investigated using in-situ neutron diffraction; the experiments were performed at D20/ILL and SPODI/FRMII. The results reveal a common reaction pathway for 1:2, 3:8 and 1:4 magnesium amide: lithium hydride mixtures. Intermediate reaction steps are observed in both ab- and desorption. The thermodynamic properties of the system at 200 degrees C are not changed by the addition of excess lithium hydride. This finding has important implications for the tailoring the characteristics of this promising hydrogen storage material. (C) 2010 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.