Effects of Nickel and Iron Oxide Addition by Milling under Hydrogen on the Hydrogen-Storage Characteristics of Mg-Based Alloys

Samples of pure Mg, 76.5 wt%Mg-23.5 wt%Ni, and 71.5 wt%Mg-23.5 wt%Ni-5 wt%$Fe_2O_3$ were prepared by reactive mechanical grinding and their hydriding and dehydriding properties were then investigated. The reactive mechanical grinding of Mg with Ni is considered to facilitate nucleation and to shorten diffusion distances of hydrogen atoms. After hydriding-dehydriding cycling, the 76.5 wt%Mg-23.5 wt%Ni and 71.5 wt%Mg-23.5 wt%Ni-5 wt%$Fe_2O_3$ samples contained $Mg_2Ni$ phase. In addition to the effects of the creation of defects and the decrease in particle size, the addition of Ni increases the hydriding and dehydriding rates by the formation of $Mg_2Ni$. Expansion and contraction of the hydride-forming materials (Mg and $Mg_2Ni$) with the hydriding and dehydriding reactions are also considered to increase the hydriding and dehydriding rates of the mixture by forming defects and cracks leading to the fragmentation of particles. The reactive mechanical grinding of Mg-Ni alloy with $Fe_2O_3$ is considered to decrease the particle size.