Kinetics of hydrogen sorption by palladium nanoparticles

The purpose of this communication is to compare the hydriding kinetics of bulk (250 μm) and nano-sized (3.6 nm) palladium particles. Sorption/desorption isotherms have been measured at 25 °C from volumetric experiments. It is shown that nano-particles retain only some of the characteristics of bulk systems. Several major differences such as different hydrogen solubility, different magnitude of hysteresis and different plateau pressure slopes have been observed. Hydrogen sorption/desorption kinetics has been analyzed in the frequency domain. A model has been used to fit experimental impedance diagrams and determine microscopic rate-parameters in the solid solution, two-phase domain and hydride phase. It is shown that microscopic rate parameters of micro- and nano-particles do not significantly differ.

► Thermodynamic and hydriding kinetics of Pd bulk and nanoparticles are compared.
► Gas-phase isotherms and gas-phase impedance diagrams are measured.
► Experimental impedance diagrams are fitted using model equations.
► Microscopic rate-parameters of bulk and nanoparticles are measured and compared.