# Influence of Milling Conditions on the Hydriding Properties of Mg-C Nanocomposites

Authors: Hristina Stoyadinova; Zlatina Zlatanova; Maya Spassova; Tony Spassov; Mikhail Baklanov
Journal: Journal of Nanomaterials
 (2015)

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## Abstract

Mg75 at.%, CB25 at.% (CB: carbon black) composites were synthesized at different ball milling conditions (milling energy, milling duration, and environment) and their hydriding properties were characterized by high-pressure DSC. The SEM observations revealed that the samples consist of 5–15μm Mg particles, surrounded and in some cases coated by carbon particles. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the Mg phase of all as-obtained composite powders is nanocrystalline with average crystallite size in the range 20–30 nm, depending on the milling conditions. The best hydriding properties, expressed in low-temperature hydriding (below 150°C) and improved cycle life, showed the composites milled at dry conditions. This is obviously due mainly to the successful Mg surface protection by the carbon. Additional decrease of the hydriding temperature (<100°C) was achieved applying higher-energy milling, but at the same time the cycling stability deteriorated, due to the extremely fine particles and microstructure achieved under these conditions. The composites milled in the presence of heptane showed rapid capacity decline during cycling as well. The observed difference in the hydriding behavior of the Mg-CB composites is attributed to the different coating efficiency of the carbon milled under different conditions with Mg, which is supposed to protect magnesium from oxidation and plays a catalytic role for the hydriding reaction.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

The effect of different forms of carbon on the hydriding properties of ball-milled Mg-C composites has been an object of various studies in the last years [1–16]. Graphite, activated carbon, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and carbon fibers were investigated with the aim to decrease the MgH2 decomposition temperature [1] as well as improving the hydriding/dehydriding kinetics [3]. The best results for the MgH2 with CNTs and MWCNTs with metallic impurities were reported by Lillo-Ródenas et al. [1]. They also found a clear relation between the MgH2 decomposition temperature and its microstructure. The presence of carbon was reported to prevent the MgH2 particle growth, which, in turn, enhances its decomposition. Improvement of H-sorption in ball-milled Mg/MgH2 using expanded natural graphite (ENG) has also been reported [2]. Although the thermodynamic properties and intrinsic hydrogen sorption kinetics were found to remain unchanged the ENG incorporation reduces the hydrogen permeability [2].Among the various carbon additives purified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were reported to exhibit the most prominent “catalytic” effect on the hydriding of Mg. Under the same conditions, hydrogen sorption rates of Mg-carbon systems were found to be one order of magnitude higher than that of pure Mg [4].Montone et al. [5] reported that the presence of benzene in the milled Mg-C blends induces a finer powder particle size and results in a complete transformation of the milled powder to the hydride by thermal reaction with hydrogen gas. Imamura et al. have also proposed the application of Mg-graphite nanocomposites, produced by ball milling with different organic additives (tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexane, and benzene) as new hydrogen storage materials [6–8]. They reported about the possibility for the formation of new sites for hydrogen storing other than those due to the magnesium, able to store hydrogen reversibly [6].Recent promising theoretical study of Kim et al. [17] predicts the effect of the nanoparticle size on the thermodynamics of hydrogen release from MgH2. The authors found that for MgH2 particles below 10 nm the hydride phase is thermodynamically destabilized, resulting in pronounced lowering of the decomposition temperature [17].MgH2 75 at.%, C 25 at.% nanocomposites, synthesized by ball milling using different kinds of carbon additives (carbon black, nanodiamonds, and amorphous carbon soot), have been objects of our recent study [18]. The composite containing nanodiamonds revealed strong decrease of the MgH2 decomposition temperature with more than 100°C, compared to ball-milled MgH2. The incorporation of carbon into the surface of the MgH2/Mg particles and thus the creation of high density of phase boundaries were found to form new easy accessible hydrogen atoms sites and enhance the diffusion of hydrogen into the magnesium grains. Among the composites in the previous study Mg-CB revealed the best overall hydriding characteristics, low temperature of hydriding in a relatively narrow temperature range by a single-step reaction and fast hydriding kinetics at relatively low temperatures (<300°C). Possible explanation of the improved dehydriding behavior of this composite is the fine particle and grain size and better contact between the carbon and MgH2/Mg particles compared to the other Mg-C materials studied. Therefore the aim of the present work was to study the hydriding properties of Mg-CB (CB-carbon black) nanocomposites prepared at substantially different ball milling conditions. Carbon black was selected as a composite component on the base of our previous study revealing its advantages among a series of carbon additives (graphite, ND, CB, and amorphous carbon) [18].


## 2. Experimental Details

The composites with a composition of Mg 75 at.%, CB 25 at.% (CB: carbon black) were synthesized by high-energy ball milling, by Fritsch planetary equipment (Pulverisette 6) at 350 rpm, using stainless steel vials and balls at weight ratio of ball to metal powders of 12 : 1. A custom built planetary ball mill [19] was also used for some of the syntheses. This mill was found to perform approximately 10 times more intensive milling than Fritch P5. The milling process with both mills was carried out for different time with 1 hour of continuous milling, followed by 15 minutes relaxation time. Protective atmosphere of pure Ar (99.999%) was used and the pressure within the vials was kept over 1 bar to preserve the purity of the gas. Initial materials, used for the synthesis, were pure Mg or MgH2 powders and carbon black (VULCAN XC72R, CABOT Corp.).Microstructural information was obtained by XRD, using Bruker D8 Advance diffractometer with Cu-Kα radiation. Morphology and particle size distribution were observed by Scanning Electron Microscope JEOL 5510.The hydriding/dehydriding processes were studied by high-pressure differential scanning calorimetry (HPDSC), SETARAM Sensys Evo TG-DSC. PARSTAT 2273 electrochemical system and 6 M KOH water solution electrolyte were used for proving the composites hydrogen charge/discharge behaviour at galvanostatic conditions.


## 3. Results and Discussion

Mg75-C25 (at.%) composites with the same composition were prepared at different conditions, Table1. The first two composites were milled in the presence of heptane for different time (15 and 35 h). The third Mg-C composite was milled at dry conditions (in the absence of heptane) for 35 h. A self-constructed high energy mill [19] was applied for the synthesis of the fourth composite. The last composite with the same composition was prepared at the same milling conditions (35 h milling at dry conditions), but using different initial Mg compound (MgH2 instead of pure Mg), Table 1.Table 1
Composition and conditions of milling of the Mg-CB composites (Mg : CB = 75 : 25 at.%).
Starting mixture
Time, h
Antisticking agent
(heptane)
Mg-CB
15
Yes
Mg-CB
35
Yes
Mg-CB
35
No
Mg-CB
15 (high energy mill)
Yes
MgH2-CB
35
NoThe morphology of the investigated ball-milled powder composites is shown in Figure1. On the micrographs particles with different morphology and size, depending on the milling conditions, can be detected. The composite milled with higher energy is characterized by slightly smaller particle size. Milling at dry conditions also results in particles size reduction compared to the composites prepared with the presence of heptane. Comparing the composites produced from Mg and MgH2 as starting materials it is evident that the hydride leads to smaller particle size. For all composites at larger magnification it is clearly seen that the particles are agglomerations of much smaller ones and are uniformly covered by very small carbon particles.SEM micrographs of (a) Mg-CB (15 h milling in heptane), (b) Mg-CB (35 h milling in heptane), (c) Mg-CB (35 h dry milling), (d) Mg-CB (15 h milling with high energy mill), (e) MgH2-CB composites, and (f) Mg-CB (15 h milling with high energy mill).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)Figure2 presents the X-ray diffractograms of the studied Mg-C composites. Except the peaks of Mg some of the diffractograms contain also more intensive peaks of MgO, as the MgO diffraction peaks of the materials milled at dry conditions and from MgH2 are noticeably smaller. As expected, increasing the milling duration leads to decrease in the grain size. It is interesting to mention that milling for 15 h in the high energy mill leads to smaller grain size (~15 nm) compared to the 35 h milled in the conventional mill (Fritsch P6) sample (~30 nm), but at the same time the amount of the oxide (MgO) increases as well. The last is due to the highly developed very active Mg particles surface, which reacts with oxygen even during the powders handling under air atmosphere. From the X-ray pattern of the composites milled from MgH2 it is obvious that the milling results in Mg crystals size reduction (MgH2 decomposes during the milling under these conditions). Formation of new phases due to the milling was not detected even applying high energy of milling and long time of the treatment.Figure 2
XRD patterns of the different ball-milled composites.To determine the temperature and heat of Mg hydriding and MgH2 decomposition as well as studying the hydriding and dehydriding processes at different hydrogen pressures high-pressure DSC (HP-DSC) analyses with constant heating and cooling rates were carried out. Figure 3 shows the HPDSC thermograms under a pressure of 25 bars hydrogen and a linear temperature scan of the Mg-CB composites (milled under different conditions conditions). They all reveal a broad exothermic effects in the temperature range of 100–350°C (depending on the milling conditions) due to hydrogen absorption and hydriding of magnesium to MgH2, proved by XRD analysis after annealing in the DSC up to 350°C under hydrogen atmosphere [18]. From the measured heat released during the hydriding (enthalpy change due to hydriding) it can be concluded that under the conditions applied in the DSC (25 atm H2, heating rate 5 K/min) the samples were not completely hydrided, that is, part of the inner volume of the Mg particles does not react with hydrogen. Rough estimation of the hydrided part gives a value of about 60%. This result is confirmed by the enthalpies determined from the endothermic DSC peaks of the MgH2 decomposition registered during continuous heating of the hydrided samples as well as the exothermic peaks result of the repeated hydriding of Mg through cooling the decomposed composites, Figure 4.Figure 3
High-pressure DSC plots (25 bars, 5 K/min) for the Mg-CB composites ((a) milled 15 h with heptane, (b) 35 h milled with heptane, (c) 35 h milled at dry conditions, (d) 15 h high energy milled, and (e) milled from MgH2).High-pressure DSC plots of Mg-CB composites milled at dry conditions and with heptane under hydrogen pressure of 25 bars: (a) heating and (b) cooling.
(a)
(b)Because the main idea of this work was to study the influence of the milling conditions on the hydriding/dehydriding behavior of Mg-C nanocomposites revealed at usual ambient conditions (in atmosphere containing oxygen) in Figure4 the hydriding behavior of two composites is compared, ball-milled for the same time (35 h) under 2 different environments: in heptane and at dry conditions. It is evident that the composite milled in heptane shows worse hydriding behavior compared to the other two composites milled entirely or partially at dry conditions. This result could only be explained by the blocked particles surface due to Mg oxidation; that is, under these conditions of milling (in heptane as antisticking agent) the surface of the Mg particles is not protected by the carbon. The same low cycling stability was observed for all composites milled in the presence of heptane (milled for 15 h and 35 h and in the high energy mill). The behavior of the dry milled composite is completely different (prepared by milling for the same time, but without heptane), Figure 4. In contrast to the composite milled in the presence of heptane the dry milled material not only reveals improved first hydriding/dehydriding reaction, but also shows stability during repeated hydriding and dehydriding (Figure 5). Both the heat released during hydriding (900 J/g) and that absorbed during the hydride decomposition (920 J/g) do not change noticeably after the 5th cycle. The two strongly overlapped endothermic peaks of MgH2 decomposition for the composite milled in heptane (Figure 4(b)) are most probably due to the presence of metastable γ-MgH2 together with the stable at these conditions tetragonal β-MgH2. It was shown that during ball milling this metastable phase can be formed and its thermal stability is slightly lower than that of β-MgH2 [16, 20, 21].Figure 5
Vth cycle of hydriding and dehydriding under hydrogen pressure of 25 bars: (a) 35 h milled with heptane and (b) 35 h milled at dry conditions.Another possible way for significant influence on the composite hydriding properties could be a large increase of the milling energy, realized in our study by using a high energy self-designed mill [19]. In this case the composites are characterized with finer particles (average size less than 1 μm) and reduction of the crystallite size compared to the other composites, Figures 1 and 2. The influence of the finer microstructure on the hydriding is obvious (Figure 3). The process of hydriding starts at temperatures lower than 100°C. At the same time, however, the cycling stability strongly worsens, due to the very reactive surface created under these conditions.Using MgH2 instead of Mg as starting material for Mg-CB composite preparation results also in particles size reduction, compared to the composites produced by milling the metal with carbon black (see Figure 1), but under the synthetic conditions applied in the present study this does not reflect in noticeable hydriding properties improvement (Figure 3).As expected the temperature of the hydrides decomposition and of subsequent hydriding during cooling the dehydrided composites under hydrogen atmosphere from 500°C is almost the same for all composites studied. This result shows that the thermodynamics of hydriding/dehydriding is not changed by the mechanical treatments applied in the study, Figure4. What is really improved is the cycling stability of the nanocomposites milled at dry conditions due to better Mg surface protection by carbon. Although the milling at dry conditions leads to some decrease of the average crystallite size compared to the samples milled in the presence of heptane, the difference, observed in the hydriding/dehydriding behavior of these composites, has to be attributed to their qualitatively better surface protection by the carbon, improving the kinetics of low-temperature hydriding and their hydriding/dehydriding cycling stability. The observed difference can only be explained by the surface properties of the milled with carbon at dry-conditions magnesium particles, obviously connected with better coating conditions realized in this case. Milling at dry conditions clearly promotes the formation of better contact between carbon and Mg particles in a much larger degree compared to the composites prepared in the presence of heptane.Additional information about the decomposition temperature of the MgH2 for the different Mg-C composites was also obtained by DSC analysis under low vacuum (0.1 atm. H2), Figure 6. Temperature of decomposition of about 270–280°C and enthalpy change equal to those determined under hydrogen pressure were registered. Under low vacuum the hydrides formed in the “dry milled” Mg-C composites decompose at lower temperature, compared to that for the material milled in heptane, Figure 6.Figure 6
Decomposition (0.1 bars) of the hydrided Mg-CB composite during heating in DSC with 5 K/min: (a) 35 h milled with heptane and (b) 35 h milled at dry conditions.To prove the ability of the best performing composite (with improved hydriding kinetics and cycle life) to be electrochemically hydrided and dehydrided hydrogen charge/discharge experiments have also been carried out at galvanostatic conditions. According to the expectations, even the composite with the best hydriding characteristics does not show reversible hydrogen charge/discharge, obviously, a result of the high stability of MgH2.


## 4. Conclusions

Mg-CB (CB: carbon black) nanocomposites with different morphology and microstructure were prepared by ball milling, varying key milling parameters (energy, time, and environment of milling) and their hydriding/dehydriding properties were compared. The composites milled at dry conditions (without antisticking agent) revealed significant improvement of the hydriding kinetics at low temperatures (<150°C) as well as their hydriding/dehydriding cycle stability, obviously due to the successful Mg surface protection, resulting in facilitated hydrogen diffusion into the Mg grains. Milling at dry conditions clearly promotes the formation of better contact between carbon and Mg particles in a much larger degree compared to the composites prepared in the presence of heptane. In contrast, the composites milled in the presence of heptane showed rapid capacity deterioration during cycling, revealing a nonefficient carbon coating process. Another interesting issue of the present study is that the composite milled in a high energy mill is characterized by extremely low temperature of hydriding (<100°C), but its cycling stability is very low, as the reason for these properties is the finer particles and microstructure and worse magnesium particles coating by carbon achieved under these conditions.



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