Thermodynamics and kinetics of hydrogen absorption–desorption of vanadium synthesized by aluminothermy

Vanadium-based body-centered cubic alloy has been considered as a potential candidate for hydrogen storage and permeation applications at ambient temperature. However, the cost of vanadium is too high to be used for the commercial application. The high cost is mainly because of the multisteps in the synthesis process. Aluminothermy is a well-established cost-effective technique to synthesize the vanadium. In this process, aluminum will be an unavoidable impurity, which may affect the hydrogen storage and permeation properties of vanadium. Therefore, it is desirable to understand the effect of residual aluminum on the hydrogen storage properties of vanadium. In the present study, vanadium was prepared by aluminothermy process and refined by electron beam melting. The thermodynamics and kinetics of hydrogen absorption–desorption of as such synthesized vanadium were studied. The hydrogen storage properties of vanadium were found to be marginally influenced by the presence of aluminum as an interstitial impurity.