Ultrasonic studies of hydrogen absorbing materials: Quasicrystals, nanocrystals, and intermetallic compounds

• Published in: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 2006-11, Vol.120 (5_Supplement), p.3034-3034
• Main Author: Leisure, Robert G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0001-4966; 1520-8524
• DOI: 10.1121/1.4787167

Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy was used to study several materials—nanocrystalline palladium, quasicrystalline Ti-Zr-Ni, and a number of intermetallic compounds—that have the ability to absorb considerable amount of hydrogen, and thus are of potential use for hydrogen storage. Elastic energies are relevant to the thermodynamics of such systems, which are often described by a lattice gas model. Elastic interactions between dissolved H atoms lead to a critical temperature and precipitation of a hydride phase below the critical temperature. The energetics of hydride precipitation depend on the elastic constants. Thus, it is important that the elastic properties of such systems be measured. In addition, these materials are of interest for several other reasons. The elastic constants and internal friction for the hydrogen-free materials were measured over a temperature range of 3 to 300 K, and in a few cases to higher temperatures. These results will be discussed and interpreted. [This work was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant DMR-0070808.]