Preparation and hydrogen storage properties of Mg-Al-Li solid solution

Abstract

In this work, a Mg-Al-Li solid solution was prepared and the influence of the preparation process on its hydrogen storage properties was investigated. The Mg17Al12 (Li) solid solution was obtained by sintering, annealing at liquid nitrogen temperature and mechanical ball milling using a molar ratio of Mg:Al:LiH = 6.5:1.5:2.0. The maximum hydrogen storage capacity of the Mg17Al12 (Li) solid solution reached 3.7 wt.% at 300 °C in 80 min. The enthalpy of the solid solution hydride decomposition was 53 kJ mol−1 H2, much lower than that of bulk Mg hydride decomposition (75 kJ mol−1 H2). The solid solution had higher hydrogen storage capacity and better hydrogen absorption kinetics than Mg17Al12 alloy.