Hydrogenation of Pd-coated samples of the Ti-Zr-based icosahedral phase and related crystalline phases

Although Ti-based quasicrystals and related crystalline phases are candidate materials for hydrogen storage applications, their absorption, desorption and cycling have been inhibited by the presence of a surface barrier due to an oxide coating. To circumvent this, melt-spun ribbons and annealed ingots of Ti45Zr38Ni17, containing the thermodynamically stable icosahedral phase (i-phase), were plasma-etched and a thin Pd coating was applied by vapor deposition. This dramatically reduced the loading time, enabled absorption at room temperature, and allowed reversible desorption of the stored hydrogen. This procedure also allowed an investigation of hydrogen absorption in the C14 phase in these alloys and in the i-phases and related crystal phases in Ti-(Cr, Mn)-Si-O alloys. The relative loading capacities of these phases are presented and discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.