On the path to bulk FeH2: Synthesis and magnetic properties of amorphous iron (II) hydride

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2014-03, Vol.590, p.199-204
• Main Authors: Morris, Leah, Trudeau, Michel L., Lees, Martin R., Hanna, John V., Antonelli, David M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloys; Amorphous material; Amorphous materials; Approximation; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Domain effects, magnetization curves, and hysteresis; Energy storage material; Exact sciences and technology; Ferromagnetic materials; Hydrides; Iron; Magnetic permeability; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetisation; Magnetization curves, magnetization reversal, hysteresis, barkhausen and related effects; Materials science; Materials synthesis; materials processing; Metal hydride; Physics; Toluene
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.12.099

•Amorphous Fe(II) hydride material approximating FeH2 has been isolated as a powder.•Moderate reaction conditions of 100bar H2 and 298K used.•Magnetic and hydrogen storage properties were investigated.•The mixed phase material is ferromagnetic.•Magnetic susceptibility of 1.25Bohr magnetons per formula unit at 10K. An amorphous Fe(II) hydride material approximating FeH2 in composition (FeH2−xRx(Et2O)y where R=mesityl) has been isolated as a bulk powder in the solid state. This was accomplished under moderate reaction conditions by the reaction of bis(mesityl) iron(II) in toluene and hydrogen gas at 100bar and 298K to give a 1:5 mixed phase amorphous material of Fe(0) and the iron (II) hydride. This represents an important advance because FeH2 has never been synthesised in bulk form. The material shows ferromagnetic behaviour with a magnetic susceptibility of 1.25Bohr magnetons per formula unit at 10K.