Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method for accelerated hydriding of a metallic substrate comprising:supplying a metallic substrate wherein said metal substrate has an activation energy for hydrogen adsorption (Easubstrate);cleaning the substrate surface by etching with an acid;coating at least a portion of a substrate surface of the metallic substrate with a metal having an activation energy for hydrogen adsorption (Eametal) that is lower than Easubstrate; hydriding the coated substrate at a temperature of less than or equal 500°C. and for a period of less than or equal to 24 hours;wherein said hydriding occurs in said metallic substrate. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the metallic substrate comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ir, Mo, Nb, Ni, Os, Pd, Pt, Re, Rh, Su, Sc, Ta, Ti, V, W Y or Zr. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the metallic substrate comprises a Zr alloy comprising containing tin, iron, chromium, nickel, and oxygen. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said metallic substrate consists of a single metal having an activation energy for hydrogen adsorption and said metal in said coating has an activation energy for hydrogen adsorption that is less than said activation energy of said single metal substrate. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said metallic substrate comprises a metal alloy where each metal in said alloy has an activation energy for hydrogen adsorption and said metal in said coating having an activation energy for hydrogen adsorption (Eametal)having an activation energy for hydrogen adsorption that is lower than any one of the metals in said metal alloy substrate. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating of said metallic substrate surface with a metal having an activation energy for hydrogen adsorption (Eametal) that is lower than Easubstrate comprises treatment of the metallic substrate surface with a metal P-diketonate complex of the following formula:wherein M is a transition metal having said Eametal that is less than Easubstrate. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating of said metallic substrate with a metal having an activation energy for hydrogen adsorption (Eametal) that is lower than Easubstrate comprises treatment of the metallic substrate surface with (1,5-cyclooctadiene) dimethyl platinum (II). 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating of said metallic substrate with a metal having an activation energy for hydrogen adsorption (Eametal) that is lower than Easubstrate comprises treatment of the metallic substrate surface with bis (1,5-cyclooctadiene) nickel (0). 9. The method of claim 6 wherein said metallic substrate comprises a Zr alloy comprising containing tin, iron, chromium, nickel, and oxygen. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said coating containing a metal having an activation energy for hydrogen adsorption (Eametal) that is less than Easubstrate comprises a metal selected from Co, Cu, Ni, Pd or Pt. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of said substrate surface that is coated with said metal comprises 1-90% of said substrate surface. 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of said substrate surface that is coated with said metal comprises 1-80% of said substrate surface. 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of said substrate surface that is coated with said metal comprises 1-70% of said substrate surface. 14. The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of said substrate surface that is coated with said metal comprises 1-60% of said substrate surface. 15. The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of said substrate surface that is coated with said metal comprises 1-50% of said substrate surface. 16. The method of claim 1 wherein said hydriding of said substrate is carried out at a temperature of 50° C. to 500° C. 17. The method of claim 1 wherein said hydriding of said substrate is carried out at a temperature of 50° C. to 300° C. 18. The method of claim 1 wherein said hydriding of said substrate is carried out at a temperature of 50° C. to 300° C. for a period of 2-24 hours.