Hydrogen absorption by magnesium chemically deposited from a homogeneous phase: new strategies for the preparation of Mg-containing hydrogen storage materials

The use of a solution of magnesium in liquid ammonia enables the preparation of novel Mg-containing hydrogen storage materials. By using the solvent power of ammonia, magnesium particles highly dispersed on active carbon (AC) were prepared. By the use of AC on which catalytically active nickel had been previously supported, the preparation of samples was extended to include Mg---Ni binary systems. These samples were very active toward hydrogen absorption. For the Mg---Ni samples an increase in Ni loading (0.1–5 wt%) markedly enhanced the hydriding activity of the host magnesium.