Hydrogen storage nanocrystalline TiFe intermetallic compound: Synthesis by mechanical alloying and compacting

Equiatomic nanocrystalline TiFe intermetallic compound was synthesized from elementary metals by mechanical alloying in a planetary ball mill. Then the powder produced was compacted by cold pressing into bulk samples keeping the nanocrystalline structure. The hydrogen capacity of TiFe bulk samples was found to be of 1.4 wt.%. The absorption isotherm had a long plateau corresponding to pressures of 0.3–0.4 MPa at room temperature. The bulk samples demonstrated high durability after 20 absorption–desorption cycles.

► Nanocrystalline TiFe was synthesized from elementary metals by mechanical alloying.
► TiFe powder was compacted in bulk samples keeping the nanocrystalline structure.
► Hydrogen capacity of the TiFe bulk samples was found to be of about 1.4 wt.%.
► Absorption isotherm had long plateau at pressure of 0.3–0.4 MPa at room temperature.
► Samples demonstrated unexpected durability after 20 absorption–desorption cycles.