Papers by Author: Daniel Rodrigo Leiva

Abstract: Magnesium complex hydrides as Mg2FeH6 are interesting phases for hydrogen storage in the solid state, mainly due to its high gravimetric and volumetric densities of H2. However, the synthesis of this hydride is not trivial because the intermetallic phase Mg2Fe does not exist and Mg and Fe are virtually immiscible under equilibrium conditions. In this study, we have systematically studied the influence of the most important processing parameters in reactive milling under hydrogen (RM) for Mg2FeH6 synthesis: milling time, ball-to-powder weight ratio (BPR), hydrogen pressure and type of mill. Low cost 2Mg-Fe mixtures were used as raw materials. An important control of the Mg2FeH6 direct synthesis by RM was attained. In optimized combinations of the processing parameters, very high proportions of the complex hydride could be obtained.

Abstract: In the present work, we have processed 2Mg-Fe mixtures by reactive milling (RM) under hydrogen atmosphere to synthesize Mg2FeH6 phase in the powder form which were then systematically processed by High Pressure Torsion (HPT) to produce bulk samples. The bulk samples were characterized in terms of microstructural and structural analyses and of hydrogen desorption properties. The hydrogen sorption properties after HPT processing was evaluated in comparison with the Mg2FeH6 powder obtained by RM and with commercial MgH2. HPT processing of Mg2FeH6 can produce bulks with a high density of defects that drastically lower the activation barrier for hydrogen desorption. Therefore, the bulk nanocrystalline Mg2FeH6 samples show endothermic hydrogen decomposition peak at a temperature around 320°C. In addition, when compared with the Mg2FeH6 and MgH2 powders, the Mg2FeH6 HPT disks showed the same results presented by the Mg2FeH6 powders and certainly decreases the onset transition temperature by as much as 160°C when compared with the MgH2 powders.

Abstract: Severe plastic deformation (SPD) techniques are being considered as low cost processing routes for Mg alloys, aiming hydrogen storage applications. The main objective is to develop air-resistant materials, with lower specific surface area in comparison with ball-milled powders, but with still attractive H-sorption kinetics associated to the microstructural refinement. In this study, the effects of different SPD processing routes (high-pressure torsion, extensive cold rolling and cold forging) in the hydrogen activation behavior of Mg was evaluated. The results show that both microstructural and textural aspects should be controlled during SPD processing to obtain Mg alloys with good H-sorption properties and enhanced activation kinetics.

Abstract: A good method to store hydrogen is in it atomic form in crystalline structure of metals at low pressure. Thanks to magnesium’s high hydrogen storage capacity, its low weight and its high natural abundance, it is an attractive material to develop hydrogen solid state storage. The production of Mg-based nanocomposites can enhance the kinetics of H-sorption of magnesium and the temperature of release of hydrogen. Transition metals as iron, which have important catalytic activity in hydrogen reactions with Mg, and the surface protective compound MgF2, are interesting additions for magnesium mixtures for hydrogen storage. In this work, Mg-based nanocomposites containing Fe and MgF2 were produced by reactive milling under hydrogen using the addition of FeF3, or directly MgF2 and Fe. The efficiency of centrifugal and planetary mill in MgH2 synthesis was compared. The phase evolution during different milling times (from 1 to 96 h) using the planetary was investigated. The different H-desorption behavior of selected milled mixtures was studied and associated with the different present phases in each case.