Local structure at interfaces between hydride-forming metals: A case study of Mg-Pd nanoparticles by x-ray spectroscopy

Article

关键词: ABSORPTION FINE-STRUCTURE;    NEAR-EDGE-STRUCTURE;    BOND-LENGTH;    THIN-FILMS;    CLUSTERS;    HYDROGEN;    EXAFS;    PALLADIUM;    EXCITATION;    SPECTRA;   

DOI  :  10.1103/PhysRevB.83.184111

来源: SCIE

【 摘 要 】

The structure at the interface between elements or phases that exhibit different hydrogen (H) binding energies exerts a profound influence on the thermodynamics of H in nanophase materials. In this paper, we study the local structure at the Mg/Pd interface in Mg nanoparticles with partial Pd coating, and we map its evolution in response to annealing and H sorption. This task is accomplished by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy, also including in situ experiments, with the support of crystallographic information from x-ray diffraction. It is shown that the initial Pd surface layer reacts with Mg at relatively low temperatures, leading to irreversible formation of a Mg-rich intermetallic phase Mg(6)Pd. Due to the high Mg-H binding energy, this phase reversibly transforms, upon H absorption, into a nanophase mixture of magnesium hydride and a Pd-rich intermetallic with H in solid solution, MgPdH(delta). These reversible structural changes are discussed with reference to recent calculations that highlight their relevance to the thermodynamics of the metal-hydride transition. The picture drawn here might be relevant to other multiphase materials presently investigated in the field of hydrogen-related science and technology.

【 授权许可】

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