Hydrogen storage in Mg and Mg-based alloys and composites processed by severe plastic deformation

Abstract

Mg-based hydrides have been extensively studied in the last 20 years due to its great potential as hydrogen storage materials, especially for stationary applications. Severe plastic deformation (SPD) can be used to produce Mg-based materials for hydrogen storage applications, with good activation (first hydrogenation) and H-absorption/desorption kinetics, combined with enhanced air resistance. Both advanced (e.g. high-pressure torsion, equal-channel angular pressing) and more conventional (e.g. cold rolling, cold forging) techniques were investigated as means of production of bulk samples with refined microstructures and controlled textures. Depending on the processing parameters, SPD or SPD-like techniques can produce sub-microcrystalline or even nanocrystalline structures, with a fair level of dispersion of the additives and high level of the desired [0002] fibre type texture. In this review we discuss how the processing of hydrogen storage materials by SPD techniques matches the following desirable aspects: fast kinetics (many interfaces nano-grains and additives), easy activation (clean surfaces, interfaces, and adequate texture) and thermodynamic stability (alloying; synergy between phases in composites). The results suggest new and in most cases simpler and cheaper alternatives to produce hydrogen storage materials with proper hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics and, in the case of composites, lower hydride stability.