Absorption of Hydrogen by Thin Films

Abstract

This review systematizes the investigation results on hydrogen absorption mechanisms up to the concentrations of ≅ 7 wt.% into magnesium, niobium, and vanadium thin films. The distinctive features of the hydride formation in single-layer and multilayer films are demonstrated. It is shown how such properties as the electrical resistance and the optical transparency, measured using thin films, can correlate with hydride formation processes. The possibility of the improvement of kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics of thin films through the formation of nanocrystalline structure and the injection of catalysts is studied. The principles have been formulated and the results on an increase in the gravimetric capacity of vanadium (niobium) due to creation of V(Nb)-based nanoporous thin-film structures are given.

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