Method for Creating and Detecting Hydrogen Sorption Sites Using Gamma Radiation

TL;DR

This paper presents a method using gamma radiation to create and detect hydrogen sorption sites in materials, with analysis of bonding energy and effects of radiation dosage and material mixing.

Contribution

It introduces a novel gamma radiation-based technique for forming and analyzing hydrogen sorption sites, including methods to estimate bonding energy and control site formation.

Findings

Hydrogen sorption sites can be created and detected via gamma radiation.

Bonding energy estimates are possible from temperature profiles of desorbed gas.

Site formation depends on radiation dose and can be quenched by heating.

Abstract

Using gamma radiation and volumetric analysis of desorbed gas, hydrogen gas bonding sites have been created and detected in select materials. Desorption of hydrogen was followed over a benign temperature-pressure range. The extent of active site formation depends on radiation dosage; quenching of sites occurs over prolonged heating at low pressures. An estimate of the hydrogen bonding energy can be made on the basis of a partial temperature profile of the gas released at one atmosphere pressure. It appears that the bonding energy can be adjusted by mixing candidate materials. A guide for further investigation and application of the method is outlined.