Electrochemical and neutron diffraction measurements of PdD sub x cathodes

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5985340

Redey, L; Myles, K M; Rotella, F J; Richardson, Jr, J W; Felcher, G P; Hitterman, R L; Kleb, R

Potentiometric and in-situ neutron diffraction measurements have been carried out on PdD{sub x} cathodes in LiOD-saturated D{sub 2}O solution. Open-circuit potentials of the PdD{sub x} electrode after interruption of high-intensity cathodic currents (300--500 mA/cm{sup 2}) showed a more negative potential ({epsilon} = 1010 mV, measured against a Hg/HgO reference electrode) than that expected from the literature. The anomalous potentials were observed for about 10--20 min after current interruption at x > 0.7 concentrations of deuterium. This phenomenon may indicate a metastable phase of the Pd-D system, which may be detected by neutron diffraction. In-situ neutron diffraction measurements, so far, have indicated only the evolution of the known {alpha} and {beta} phases of PdD{sub x}. Successful neutron diffraction measurements in electrochemical cells suggest the viability of this technique for in-situ investigations of metal-hydride battery electrodes in experiments when heavy-water electrolyte is used to model the MH{sub 2}/H{sub 2}O electrode.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5985340
• Report Number(s): ANL/CP-73231; CONF-911047--11; ON: DE92005236
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250903* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360202 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Structure & Phase Studies
360204 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Physical Properties
CATHODES
COHERENT SCATTERING
CRYSTAL LATTICES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CURRENTS
DEUTERIUM COMPOUNDS
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRODES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
PALLADIUM COMPOUNDS
PHASE STUDIES
POTENTIOMETRY
SCATTERING
TITRATION
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS