Adsorption and Desorption Characteristics of Deuterides

This chapter will focus on the deuterium absorption and desorption characteristics of metal deuterides and alloy deuterides. Among all deuterides, metal deuterides have the most types with the longest and most in-depth study history, and the widest and most mature applications. Because metal deuterides have excellent deuterium adsorption and desorption characteristics, they have many functions, and can be used as deuterium storage carriers, deuterium sources, thermonuclear reaction materials, etc. In order to study and evaluate the deuterium adsorption and desorption of metal deuterides or alloy deuterides, their chemical thermodynamic and kinetic properties, such as the desorption pressure–composition–temperature profile (p-c-T curve), plateau pressure, hysteresis, hydrogen adsorption and desorption amount, reaction heat, activation performance, expansion rate, hydrogenation reaction rate, cycle life, thermal conductivity, alloy toxicity, stability, and many other indicators, must be tested. Meanwhile, deuterium, as an isotope of hydrogen, has completely different thermodynamic and kinetic performance from hydrogen and tritium in the process of hydrogen absorption and desorption. Therefore, the isotope effect of deuterium absorption and desorption will be included in this chapter.