Publications Details

Interaction of hydrogen isotopes with metals

Besenbacher, F.; Nielsen, B.B.; Noerskov, J.K.; Myers, S.M.; Nordlander, P.; Technical Univ Of Denmark, Lyngby (Denmark) L.A.P.3.; Rutgers-The State Univ, Piscataway (Usa)

From an interplay between theory based on the effective-medium scheme and experiments, an extremely simple picture has evolved which is capable of describing a vast number of experimental quantities related to interaction of hydrogen with metals, especially the trapping of hydrogen at defects. It is shown that the trap strengths are determined mainly by the interstitial electron density, and any open structures in the lattice leads to a trap, with the vacancies and voids being the strongest traps. It is also found theoretically and experimentally that up to six hydrogen atoms can be accommodated in a vacancy, and the change in trap strengths with occupancy has been determined. Recent results for the trapping of deuterium to defects in Pd are discussed. 29 refs., 5 figs.