Hydrogen Storage Property Comparison of Pure Mg and Iron (III) Oxide-Added Mg Prepared by Reactive Mechanical Grinding

The activation of Mg-10 wt%$Fe_2O_3$ was completed after one hydriding-dehydriding cycle. Activated Mg-10 wt%$Fe_2O_3$ absorbed 5.54 wt% H for 60 min at 593 K under 12 bar $H_2$, and desorbed 1.04 wt% H for 60 min at 593 K under 1.0 bar $H_2$. The effect of the reactive grinding on the hydriding and dehydriding rates of Mg was weak. The reactive grinding of Mg with $Fe_2O_3$ is believed to increase the $H_2$-sorption rates by facilitating nucleation (by creating defects on the surface of the Mg particles and by the additive), by making cracks on the surface of Mg particles and reducing the particle size of Mg and thus by shortening the diffusion distances of hydrogen atoms. The added $Fe_2O_3$ and the $Fe_2O_3$ pulverized during mechanical grinding are considered to help the particles of magnesium become finer. Hydriding-dehydriding cycling is also considered to increase the $H_2$-sorption rates of Mg by creating defects and cracks and by reducing the particle size of Mg.