Hydrogen Storage Alloy with Palladium Catalytic Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen storage alloys require heat and pressure for hydrogenation, leading to inefficiencies in hydrogen absorption and diffusion, especially in the solid state, where hydrogen tends to accumulate only on the surface and not diffuse effectively to inner regions.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen storage alloy comprising a mixture of magnesium and alloys like magnesium-nickel, with a palladium catalytic layer covering the surface, allowing hydrogen to absorb and diffuse quickly at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, facilitated by a porous body of nanofibers providing a large surface area for hydrogen contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If hydrogen storage alloy uses Mg bulk with surface crystalline region, then hydrogen storage capacity is improved (7 parts by weight or more), but thermal energy and pressure energy are required for hydrogenation reaction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating a surface crystalline region with short distance between nearest neighboring atoms on the Mg bulk. This localized structural modification at the surface enables efficient hydrogen absorption and diffusion without requiring external thermal energy and pressure energy, while maintaining high hydrogen storage capacity of 7 parts by weight or more.
2Quantity of substance
If Mg bulk is used for hydrogen storage, then hydrogen storage capacity is high, but hydrogen diffusion ability in solid state is low causing slow absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a surface crystalline region with specific atomic arrangement (short distance between nearest neighboring atoms) on the Mg bulk. This localized structural change at the surface accelerates hydrogen diffusion into the solid state while preserving the high hydrogen storage capacity of the Mg bulk, solving the contradiction between storage capacity and diffusion speed.
3Productivity
If hydrogen is absorbed only in surface region of Mg alloy, then hydrogenation reaction occurs, but absorbed hydrogen cannot diffuse to inner region forming barrier film
Solution Approach 1:
The surface crystalline region with short interatomic distance acts as a fast diffusion pathway, allowing hydrogen absorbed at the surface to quickly penetrate into the inner regions of the Mg bulk. This prevents barrier film formation and ensures uniform hydrogen distribution throughout the alloy, maintaining both high hydrogenation reaction rate and composition stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables rapid hydrogen absorption and diffusion within the solid state without the need for thermal or pressure energy, enhancing storage capacity and efficiency by allowing hydrogen to be absorbed throughout the alloy, not just on the surface.
Implementation Method 1
catalyze hydrogenation reaction using a catalyst such as Pd (palladium) or Pt (platinum)
Implementation Method 2
hydrogen's slowly diffusing in the solid-state Mg means that even though hydrogen is absorbed in Mg in a surface region of a Mg alloy, the hydrogen absorbed is not passed on to Mg in an inner region
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen storage alloy comprises a hydrogen storage base formed of a mixture of magnesium and an alloy, such as a magnesium-nickel alloy, a magnesium-titanium alloy, a magnesium-niobium alloy, a magnesium-manganese alloy, or a magnesium-cobalt alloy, and a catalytic layer covering a surface of the base. A hydrogen storage alloy unit includes the hydrogen storage base and a porous body including an assembly of nanofibers. The alloy may be vapor-deposited onto the assembly of nanofibers. The nanofibers may be tangled to provide spaces between the fibers for the passage of hydrogen molecules. The nanofibers in one example are also porous. A catalytic layer of platinum may cover a surface of the hydrogen storage base.