Improvement of hydrogen-storage properties of Mg by reactive mechanical grinding with Fe2O3

We tried to improve the H2-sorption properties of Mg by mechanical grinding under H2 (reactive mechanical grinding) with Fe2O3 under various milling conditions. The sample Mg-10 wt.%Fe2O3 prepared by milling at a revolution speed of 250 rpm for 24 h has the best hydrogen-storage properties. It absorbs 5.05 wt.% hydrogen at 593 K under 12 bar H2 for 60 min at the first cycle. Its activation is accomplished after three hydriding-dehydriding cycles. The activated sample absorbs 4.22 wt.% hydrogen at 593 K, 12 bar H2 for 10 min. The reactive grinding of Mg with Fe2O3 increases the H2-sorption rates by facilitating nucleation (by creating defects on the surface of the Mg particles and by the additive), by making cracks on the surface of Mg particles and reducing the particle size of Mg and thus by shortening the diffusion distances of hydrogen atoms. Hydriding-dehydriding cycling also increases the H2-sorption rates by creating defects on the surface of the Mg particles, and by making cracks on the surface of Mg particles and reducing the particle size of Mg. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.