Resolving Hydrogen Atoms at Metal-metal Hydride Interfaces

Overview

Journal Sci Adv

Specialties Biology
Science

Date 2020 Feb 18

PMID 32064349

Citations 17

Authors

Sytze de Graaf

Jamo Momand

Christoph Mitterbauer

Sorin Lazar

Bart J Kooi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Hydrogen as a fuel can be stored safely with high volumetric density in metals. It can, however, also be detrimental to metals, causing embrittlement. Understanding fundamental behavior of hydrogen at the atomic scale is key to improve the properties of metal-metal hydride systems. However, currently, there is no robust technique capable of visualizing hydrogen atoms. Here, we demonstrate that hydrogen atoms can be imaged unprecedentedly with integrated differential phase contrast, a recently developed technique performed in a scanning transmission electron microscope. Images of the titanium-titanium monohydride interface reveal stability of the hydride phase, originating from the interplay between compressive stress and interfacial coherence. We also uncovered, 30 years after three models were proposed, which one describes the position of hydrogen atoms with respect to the interface. Our work enables previously unidentified research on hydrides and is extendable to all materials containing light and heavy elements, including oxides, nitrides, carbides, and borides.

Citing Articles

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