In-situ Observation of Hydride Stability of Vanadium Alloys in Electron Microscope

In-situ Observation of Hydride Stability of Vanadium Alloys in Electron Microscope

High-resolution microscopy was applied for surveying hydride stability in Vanadium alloys, which are candidate for hydrogen storage materials of advanced hydrogen energy systems. $V_2H$ hydride in V alloys was stable at room temperature under the vacuum condition, but it was decomposed during heating up to $100^{\circ}C$. It was confirmed from HRTEM image and FFT that $V_2H$ has a BCT structure, where hydrogen atoms locate at octahedral sites. Crystal orientation was <110> beta// <110> mat., and lattice strain is about 10%. After the decomposition of the hydride, relatively large lattice expansion was observed in the matrix, which suggests that hydrogen atoms should be trapped by lattice defects and included in the matrix. Intensive electron beam also enhanced the decomposition.