Real-time measurement of desorption temperature and kinetics of magnesium hydride powder sample based on optical reflection

We demonstrate the proof-of-principle that interaction between visible light and a magnesium hydride sample in reflective mode can be used to determine the desorption temperature and kinetics of magnesium hydride in powder form. The demonstrated optical technique requires only milligrams of sample and can potentially be used to measure the de/absorption temperature and kinetics of magnesium nanostructures, which are often fabricated via the physical vapor deposition method inside an optically transparent quartz tube. This would help to eliminate the common problem of oxidation associated with removal and transport of the freshly fabricated nanostructures into an inert protective environment. This optical technique could be applied to any hydrogen-storage material in the form of powder which shows a significant difference in its optical absorption between the hydride and the non-hydride phase.