The Formation and Properties of Rare-Earth and Transition Metal Hydrides

Research on metal hydrides indicates that surface chemical effects and dynamic thermal properties will play major roles in the use of these materials as hydrogen fuel storage media. Various techniques have been developed to optimize the formation of metal hydride films, and near-surface analytical techniques including ion microprobe mass analysis, Auger electron spectroscopy, and proton backscattering have been used to elucidate the surface chemistry of these materials. Thermal diffusivities have been measured for hydrides of Sc, Y, Zr, and Er.