Work

Work-Function-Dependent Reduction of Transition Metal Nitrides in Hydrogen Environments

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Amidst the growing importance of hydrogen in a sustainable future, it is crucial to develop coatings that can protect hydrogen-sensitive system components in reactive hydrogen environments. However, the prediction of the chemical stability of materials in hydrogen is not fully understood. In this study, we show that the work function is a key parameter determining the reducibility (i.e., denitridation) of transition metal nitrides (TMNs) in hydrogen radicals (H*) at elevated temperatures. We demonstrate that, when the work function of a TMN system drops below a threshold limit (ϕ TH ), its reduction effectively stops. We propose that this is due to the preferential binding of H* to transition metal (TM) atoms rather than N atoms, which makes the formation of volatile species (NH x ) unfavorable. This finding provides a novel perspective for comprehending the interaction of hydrogen with TM compounds and allows prediction of the chemical stability of hydrogen-protective coatings.

Source: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c02259

Authors: Abdul Rehman, Robbert W. E. van de Kruijs, Wesley T. E. van den Beld, Jacobus M. Sturm, Marcelo Ackermann

Institution: University of Twente

Language: English

Topic: Hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion behaviors in metals

Subfield: Metals and Alloys

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500

Funders: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, University of Twente, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, ASML