Neutron Diffraction Study of Hydrogen Thermoemission Phenomenon from Powder Crystals
Abstract
In hydrogen energy powder metals or compounds that accumulate and desorb hydrogen extensively are used for hydrogen storages. Even in small quantities hydrogen can have stronger effect on structure and properties of some metals and compounds than heavier elements. Study of both hydrogen arrangement in crystal structure and process of its evacuation out of a lattice is of great importance for understanding the reasons and mechanisms of hydrogen influence on material properties. At vacuum hydrogen evacuation, it is possible to find such temperature Тev at which the hydrogen atoms, having low bond energy and high diffusion speed, are eliminated out of the lattice. The configuration of relatively heavy matrix atoms (previously stabilized by hydrogen atoms) does not change because of their insufficient diffusive mobility at this temperature. In this way it is possible to obtain new metastable phases artificially (hydrogen induced phases). In these phases the structure of initial hydrogenous phase can be kept (as if frozen), but during heat treatment they can undergo phase transitions uncharacteristic for the initial material. Vacuum removal of hydrogen out of a crystal lattice without change of symmetry is similar to thermoelectronic emission. Therefore we suggest the name of this new phenomenon as “hydrogen thermoemission“ from crystals. Thus hydrogen thermoemission is complete removal of hydrogen atoms out of crystal structure without changing the crystal symmetry. The aim of this chapter is generalizing the results of neutron diffraction investigations of low-temperature hydrogen thermoemission phenomenon from powder crystals of Ti-N-H, Zr-N-H, Ti-C-H, Ti-H systems and of rare earth metal trihydroxides R(OH)3, were R is La, Nd or Pr. We will also look into formation of regularities and structural features of hydrogen induced phases.