This study demonstrated the feasibility of a novel Mg vapor deposition treatment on Ni foam to synthesize a Ni Mg texture-like structure as a new type of hydrogen absorber. Energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) yielded an estimative value of the weight percent ratio of Ni and Mg of 71.8 and 20.5 in as-prepared Ni Mg texture-like structure. The microstructural changes were also characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the formed hydride tetragonal-MgH(2) was confirmed. The unique combination of large surface area of catalyst (Ni) and hydrogen acceptor (Mg) reduced the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation temperatures and performed the capability of reversible hydrogen storage capacity up to 0.72 wt.% H(2) at 25 degrees C. Ni Mg texture-like structure achieved significant hydriding-dehydriding performances at lower temperature than traditional Mg-based hydrogen storage alloys. A possible hydrogen storage mechanism was also discussed where the catalytic Ni foam with large surface area was shown to be a vital factor in improving hydriding dehydriding kinetics. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
