Electrochemical Deuteration of Metastable MgTi Alloys: An Effective Way to Inhibit Phase Segregation

Electrochemical deuteration of metastable Mg-Ti alloys is studied. To investigate the dynamics of deuterium atoms in the crystal host, the as-prepared hydrides are examined by means of NMR spectroscopy. Remarkably the host compound, which phase segregates upon gas phase deuteration at high temperatures, preserves its original structure during low temperature electrochemical deuteration. Deuterium atoms exchange dynamically between Mg-rich and Ti-rich sites.