2-step reaction kinetics for hydrogen absorption into bulk material via dissociative adsorption on the surface

Abstract

We have demonstrated that the process of hydrogen absorption into a solid experimentally follows a Langmuir-type (hyperbolic) function instead of Sieverts law. This can be explained by independent two theories. One is the well-known solubility theory which is the basis of Sieverts law. It explains that the amount of hydrogen absorption can be expressed as a Langmuir-type (hyperbolic) function of the square root of the hydrogen pressure. We have succeeded in drawing the same conclusion from the other theory. It is a 2-step reaction kinetics (2sRK) model that expresses absorption into the bulk via adsorption on the surface. The 2sRK model has an advantage to the solubility theory: Since it can describe the dynamic process, it can be used to discuss both the amount of hydrogen absorption and the absorption rate. Some phenomena with absorption via adsorption can be understood in a unified manner by the 2sRK model.