Abstract
The topics of the thesis include two parts: the first part discusses the kinetics of hydrogenation in a Pd nanofilm and analyzes the stress. The other part is engineering designs for utilization of metal hydrides, for example, hydrogen storage tank, heat pump, and fuel cell.The electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) was used to measure both the frequency shift and the oxidation-reduction current at the same time in situ. Prior to the EQCM test, a Pd nanofilm was coated on the quartz crystal microbalance by magnetic sputtering. The capacity of hydrogen in the Pd nanofilm and stresses induced by hydrogen absorption could be obtained based on the Faraday’s law and the EerNisse’s formula, respectively. Kinetics of hydrogen/deuterium absorption in Pd nanofilm was performed at constant potentials and a mathematical model was established to interpret the reasons of time delay. To measure the stresses induced by hydrogen absorption, the bending laser beam apparatus was used to cross check the induced stresses.The topics of second part concern the engineering design for utilizes of metal hydrides. The concepts of a portable hydrogen pipe are developed for personal necessity of hydrogen energy in future. In fact, a prototype portable hydrogen pipe have been fabricated and used as a hydrogen source in my laboratory. The hydride heat pump is expected to design as an automobile air-conditioner. This one improves the faults from the first-generation hydride heat pump to increase the efficiency of heat exchange. One of the frontier studies in applications of hydrogen is the fuel cell. It is the most possible to be the power for the electrical automobile. The design concept is induced from the principles of Nickel-hydride battery, electrical capacity, and hydrogen permeation membrane. Based on the concept, the high-density current may perhaps be developed.