A search for new Mg- and K-containing alanates for hydrogen storage

In this work Mg- and K-containing alanates have been investigated as possible hydrogen storage materials. Ball milling was carried out under argon or at moderate/high hydrogen pressure in order to obtain an improved driving force for the formation of potential new alanate phases. Powder X-ray diffraction and volumetric measurements were used in order to identify reaction mechanisms and phases forming in these systems. New unidentified peaks were detected for the mixtures 2MgH₂ + 3Al + KH and 2CaH₂ + Al + 2KH. However, they do not seem to belong to reversible hydride phases.