Combinatorial synthesis of alloy libraries with a progressive composition gradient using laser engineered net shaping (LENS): Hydrogen storage alloys

• New combinatorial synthesis method for hydrogen storage alloys was proposed.
• Laser engineered net shaping (LENS) technique was used.
• Discrete and continuous gradient Fe–Ti and Fe–Ti–Ni alloy libraries were manufactured.
• Chemical composition and hydrogen storage properties were investigated.

The laser engineered net shaping technique was applied as a fast synthesis method for preparing libraries of binary and ternary alloys. Compositional gradient libraries of Fe–Ti alloys and four different FeTiNi samples were fabricated from elemental powders. A continuous gradient sample and discrete gradient samples (25 and 188 samples) were deposited. Ternary alloys were prepared from pre-blended powder mixtures. Chemical composition measurements showed that samples of different compositions can be synthesized. XRD phase analysis indicated that structures close to equilibrium or occasionally quenched are obtained after the process. The microstructure of the prepared samples was analyzed. The hydrogen storage properties of the selected samples were investigated. After laser deposition, the samples were found to absorb significant quantities of hydrogen with just a simple activation. The method was determined to be very useful for discovering new ternary and multicomponent alloys for hydrogen storage.