Effect of Surface and Interface Structures on Hydrogenation Characteristics in Ti-Ni Hydrogen Storage Materials

Fuel cells have been paid attention as a pollution-free power system for next-generation. For a widespread use of the fuel cells, the development of hydrogen storage materials is needed from the viewpoint of safe fuel supplies. Surface and inner microstructures of the materials have much effect on their hydrogenation and dehydrogenation characteristics. At present stage, it is difficult to design the useful storage material required a high hydrogen capacity and a low emission temperature.Hydrogen molecules are decomposed into the atoms at the material surface, and the atoms are stored in the material after their diffusing. The surface has a different function with the inside of the material. Hence, if the structural control techniques for the surface and inside of the materials can be obtained, we show the guideline of high performance materials for the hydrogen storage. In this research, we made Ti-Ni composites by mechano-chemical and by liquid phase reduction. The structures, hydrogenation and dehydrogenation characteristics were investigated by means of XRD, EDX, PCT, and DSC.