Effect of Synthesized MgNi4Y Catalyst on Hydrogen Desorption Properties of Milled MgH2

Abstract

It has been reported that ball milling and adding catalyst can improve hydrogen desorption properties of MgH2. In this study, simultaneous effect of adding catalyst and ball milling on hydrogen desorption properties of MgH2 was studied. Mechanical alloying and heat treatment methods were used to synthesize MgNi4Y intermetallic as a catalyst. In this regard, pure Mg, Ni, and Y elemental powders were ball milled in different conditions and then heat treated at 1073 K (800 °C) for 4 hours. XRD and FESEM methods were used to investigate properties of the samples. It was found that, after 10 hours of ball milling and then heat treating at 1073 K (800 °C), MgNi4Y intermetallic was formed almost completely. The results of Sievert tests showed that as-received MgH2 did not release any significant amount of hydrogen at 623 K (350 °C). But, after ball milling for 10 hours, 0.8 wt pct hydrogen was released from MgH2 at 623 K (350 °C) in 40 minutes. Adding 10 wt pct catalyst via ball milling to MgH2 led to releasing 3.5 wt pct hydrogen in the same conditions. In addition, increasing ball milling time from 10 to 65 hours increased the amount of released hydrogen from 51 to 85 pct of theoretical hydrogen desorption value and improved kinetic of desorption process.