Interface reactions and stability of a hydride composite (NaBH4 + MgH2).

The use of the interaction of two hydrides is a well-known concept used to increase the hydrogen equilibrium pressure of composite mixtures in comparison to that of pure systems. The thermodynamics and reaction kinetics of such hydride composites are reviewed and experimentally verified using the example NaBH(4) + MgH(2). Particular emphasis is placed on the measurement of the kinetics and stability using thermodesorption experiments and measurements of pressure-composition isotherms, respectively.

CO2 hydrogenation on a metal hydride surface.

The catalytic hydrogenation of CO(2) at the surface of a metal hydride and the corresponding surface segregation were investigated. The surface processes on Mg(2)NiH(4) were analyzed by in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) combined with thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) and mass spectrometry (MS), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). CO(2) hydrogenation on the hydride surface during hydrogen desorption was analyzed by catalytic activity measurement with a flow reactor, a gas chromatograph (GC) and MS.

Effect of the surface oxidation of LiBH(4) on the hydrogen desorption mechanism.

The surface oxidation behavior of LiBH(4) and NaBH(4) was investigated in view of the formation and structure of the surface oxidation and its effect on the hydrogen desorption kinetics. The sample surfaces were intentionally modified by exposure to oxygen in the pressure range from 10(-10) mbar up to 200 mbar. The induced surface changes were systematically studied by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Characterization of hydrogen storage materials by means of pressure concentration isotherms based on the mass flow method.

The determination of the equilibrium thermodynamic parameters of hydrogen storage materials from quasiequilibrium pressure data using the mass flow pressure concentration isotherm (pcI) method is presented. The method bases on the acquisition of pcI curves at different flow rates using a thermal mass flow controller to determine the amount of ad/desorbed hydrogen. These measurements provide a set of corresponding quasiequilibrium pressure functions from, which the true equilibrium pressure of the hydride is calculated by extrapolation to zero flow.

Stability and reversibility of LiBH4.

LiBH4 is a complex hydride and exhibits a high gravimetric hydrogen density of 18.5 wt %. Therefore it is a promising hydrogen storage material for mobile applications.

Surface chirality of CuO thin films.

We present X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray photoelectron diffraction (XPD) investigations of CuO thin films electrochemically deposited on an Au(001) single-crystal surface from a solution containing chiral tartaric acid (TA). The presence of enantiopure TA in the deposition process results in a homochiral CuO surface, as revealed by XPD. On the other hand, XPD patterns of films deposited with racemic tartaric acid or the "achiral" meso-tartaric acid are completely symmetric.