Hydrogen adsorption on a clean palladium ribbon; Thermal desorption and work function measurements

Abstract

The adsorption of hydrogen on a palladium ribbon has been studied by thermal desorption and work function measurements. It has been established that several heating cycles of the sample covered with hydrogen, up to 700 K lead to the repeated appearance of hydrogen thermal desorption peaks. Analogous experiments of adsorption and repeated heating cycles up to 700 K have shown work function changes decrease to zero as a result of heating and an increase again almost up to the initial value following cooling, in a much shorter time than that required for adsorption. The experimental results show that only a small part of the adsorbed hydrogen is desorbed in the temperature range of the thermal desorption peak. The major part of adsorbed hydrogen penetrates below the surface which leads to a nonequilibium increase of the bulk concentration.