Synthesis and hydrogen storage properties of Mg-based alloys

Mg-based alloys have been made by mechanical alloying Mg with some transition and non-transition elements. The thermal stability and hydrogen storage properties have been investigated. It was found that mechanical alloying results in a supersaturated solid solution of some elements in the Mg phase. Thermal annealing and/or hydrogenation cause irreversible decomposition of supersaturated solid solution leading to a composite of Mg or MgH2 with other phase(s) depending on the composition and contents. Therefore, the plateau pressure or thermodynamic properties of hydrogen absorption/desorption of the supersaturated solid solution are no different from that of the Mg composite. While in some equilibrium systems, the formation of Mg solid solution is reversible upon hydrogenation/dehydrogenation. The plateau pressure of the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation is increased due to the interaction of the alloying elements with the Mg lattice in the solid solution. The Mg-Li system is an exception because of the formation of stable LiH upon hydrogenation of Mg(Li) solid solution. No interaction takes place between Mg or MgH2 with LiH, therefore, no destabilization of MgH2 is observed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.