Hydride phase formation in LaMg2Ni during H2 absorption

Hydrogen absorption and desorption properties in nanocrystalline LaMg₂Ni are presented. Nanostructured phases have been obtained by milling grain coarse ingot and by mechanically alloying the parent elements. The structural and hydriding properties were examined by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and thermal desorption measurements. Ball milling and mechanical alloying give a significant refinement of the microstructure. Reactive milling has been used for hydrogen absorption experiments. Hydrogenation by means of reactive milling at 300 K under a pressure of 0.4 MPa leads to the formation of a stable La-hydride phase together with an amorphous phase. Thermal desorption up to 983 K of hydrogenated samples leads again to parent LaMg₂Ni phase.