High-pressure torsion of TiFe intermetallics for activation of hydrogen storage at room temperature with heterogeneous nanostructure

TiFe is a potential candidate for the stationary hydrogen storage systems, but it requires initial activation to absorb hydrogen. This study shows that TiFe processed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) absorbs and desorbs 1.7 wt.% hydrogen at room temperature without activation. The absorption pressure decreases from 2 MPa in the first hydrogenation cycle to 0.7 MPa in the latter cycles. The HPT-processed TiFe exhibits heterogeneous microstructures composed of nanograins, coarse-grains, amorphous-like phases and disordered phases with a high hardness of ∼1050 Hv.

► TiFe was severely deformed by high-pressure torsion (HPT).
► A heterogeneous microstructure including nano- and coarse-grains was formed.
► Local disordering and amorphization also occurred after HPT.
► The material absorbed 1.7 wt.% hydrogen at room temperature without activation.