Thermodynamic and kinetic studies of the reaction of H/sub 2/O and/or H/sub 2/ with selected rare earth and rare earth intermetallic compounds

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5942250

Smith, H K

Many rare earth and rare earth intermetallic compounds have a large chemical affinity for hydrogen. This has possible implications for the future use of hydrogen as a fuel. These materials could conceivably be utilized in the production of H/sub 2/ from H/sub 2/O. Rare earth alloys might also provide the solution for safe storage of hydrogen in the form of metal hydrides. In light of the above, the three topics of investigation were: 1) the reaction of H/sub 2/O with lanthanide metals, 2) the thermodynamic and crystallographic structure of the R/sub 6/Fe/sub 23/H/sub x/ (R = Y,Ho,Er,Lu) and R/sub 6/Mn/sub 23/H/sub x/ (R = Gd,Dy,Ho,Er) systems, and 3) the kinetics of H/sub 2/ absorption ad surface features of the RT/sub 2/H/sub x/ (R = Ho,Er; T = Mn,Fe,Co and Ni) systems. The reaction of H/sub 2/O with dysprosium thin films was found by x-ray diffraction to form only DyH/sub 2/. This prospective H/sub 2/O splitting reaction prompted an extensive investigation of the reaction of certain rare earth (Pr,Gd,Dy,Er) powders and thin films with water vapor. Since the reaction Dy + H/sub 2/O ..-->.. DyH/sub 2/ + 1/x DyO/sub x/, is exothermic in nature.

• Research Organization: Pittsburgh Univ., PA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5942250
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080201 -- Hydrogen-- Chemisorption Storage
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105* -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
ALLOYS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISORPTION
ELEMENTS
HYDRIDATION
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN STORAGE
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
METALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RARE EARTH ALLOYS
RARE EARTHS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
STORAGE
SURFACE PROPERTIES
WATER