Work

Effect of high temperature and irradiation on the near-surface microstructure of YHx

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: To study the microstructural evolution of Yttrium hydride (YH x ) under operational conditions, the surface phase transformation, morphology, and microstructure of YH x samples fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) were characterized after high-temperature proton irradiation and isochronous annealing. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) results showed that yttrium oxide formed in all irradiated and annealed samples. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations revealed surface blistering, which is related to the irradiation dose. The near-surface microstructure was further characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which showed the presence of voids near the surface. Irradiated samples exhibited a higher number density of cavities and a reduction in cavity size compared to the isochronous annealing samples. Temperature and irradiation-induced vacancies were found to contribute to increased hydrogen mobility and hydrogen dissociation, as revealed by density functional theory (DFT). The mechanism underlying the evolution of the near-surface microstructure, including void formation and surface blistering, was thereby elucidated.

Source: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.04.363

Authors: Ying Li, Xuyang Shang, Keke Hou, Yajuan Zhong, Jun Lin

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hebei University of Engineering

Language: English

Topic: Hydrogen Storage and Materials

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,730

Funders: Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality