Preparation and properties of porous metal hydride compacts

Abstract Hydrides of LaNi5 were compacted to form solid porous metallic-matrix hydrides (PMHs). Pellets were obtained and were cycled for preliminary testing. The metal matrix was formed from aluminum, copper, nickel etc.; only PMHs using aluminum were tested. The method of preparation yielded pellets that did not disintegrate after repeated cycling. The pellets rapidly absorbed hydrogen from the first cycle, eliminating the need for activation. The kinetics were very fast and the hydrogen capacity was high. Preliminary metallographical analyses showed the microstructure actually obtained. The thermal conductivity was found to be 32.5 W m−1 K−1.