Controlled Release of Hydrogen Isotopes from Hydride-Magnetic Nanomaterials

Abstract

In this work, hydrogen isotopes in the form of protium and deuterium were rapidly desorbed from magnetic-hydride iron oxide-palladium (Fe2O3-Pd) hybrid nanomaterials using an alternating magnetic field (AMF). Palladium, a hydride material with a well-known hydrogen isotope effect, was deposited on Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticle support by solution chemistries and used as a hydrogen isotope storage component. The morphological, structural, optical, and magnetic studies reveal that the Fe2O3-Pd nanoparticles (NPs) are hybrid structures exhibiting both hydrogen isotope storage (Pd) and magnetic (Fe2O3) properties. The hydrogen isotope sorption/desorption behavior of metal hydride-magnetic nanomaterials was assessed by isothermal pressure-composition response curves (isotherms). The amount and rate of hydrogen isotope gas release was tuned by simply adjusting the strength of the magnetic field strength applied. Protium and deuterium displayed a similar loading capacity, namely H/M 0.55 and H/M=0.45, but different plateau pressures. Significant differences in the kinetics of release for protium and deuterium during magnetic heating were observed. A series of magnetically induced charge-discharge cycling experiments were conducted showing that this is a highly reproducible and robust process.

Efficient Thermal Processes Using Alternating Electromagnetic Field for Methodical and Selective Release of Hydrogen Isotopes

“…Hydrogen has a very high energy density per unit weight (three times more than gasoline) and burns faster than a conventional gasoline. 3,6 The hydrogen's isotopes, namely tritium, deuterium, and protium, are also of particular interest for fusion applications and defense missions. 6,7 Hydrogen is normally stored and transported in highpressure cylinders.…”

“…3,6 The hydrogen's isotopes, namely tritium, deuterium, and protium, are also of particular interest for fusion applications and defense missions. 6,7 Hydrogen is normally stored and transported in highpressure cylinders. For special applications, hydrogen is temporarily stored in a liquid phase at a cryogenic temperature, −253 °C.…”

“…However, these storage techniques require extensive infrastructure and expenditures. 7 Compressed or liquefied hydrogen also poses significant safety concerns. Storing hydrogen in solid-state materials is a better alternative as it provides a higher storage and energy density capabilities.…”

“…6,7 It has been exploited in cancer therapy, 18 welding and soldering, 19 and thermoplastic processing 20 among others. 6,7,21 The use of the AEMF technology as an alternative to the indirect heating methods offers many significant advantages. For example, electromagnetic energy is noncontact and can be directly coupled to magnetic materials for localized and targeted heating.…”

Shape-Selective Mesoscale Nanoarchitectures: Preparation and Photocatalytic Performance

“…A large number of studies have been dedicated to the development of sophisticated, bottom-up and top-down approaches to produce unique nanomaterials and nanoarchitectures with tailored properties and functionalities [1,2]. This is due to their promising applications for molecular scale electronics [3] plasmonics/photonics [4], biomedical [5], magnetic [6], sensing [7], and optical devices [8].…”