Improvement of Hydrogen Storage Properties of Mg by Addition of NbF₅ via Mechanical Milling under H₂

A 90 wt% Mg-10 wt% $NbF_5$ sample was prepared by mechanical milling under $H_2$ (reactive mechanical grinding). Its hydriding and dehydriding properties were then examined. Activation of the 90 wt% Mg-10 wt% $NbF_5$ sample was not required. At n=1, the sample absorbed 3.11 wt% H for 2.5 min, 3.55 wt% H for 5 min, 3.86 wt% H for 10 min, and 4.23 wt% H for 30 min at 593K under 12 bar $H_2$. At n=1, the sample desorbed 0.17 wt% H for 5 min, 0.74 wt% H for 10 min, 2.03 wt% H for 30 min, and 2.81 wt% H for 60 min at 593K under 1.0 bar $H_2$. The XRD pattern of the 90 wt% Mg-10 wt% $NbF_5$ after reactive mechanical grinding showed Mg, ${\beta}-MgH_2$ and small amounts of ${\gamma}-MgH_2$, $NbH_2$, $MgF_2$ and $NbF_3$. The XRD pattern of the 90 wt% Mg-10 wt% $NbF_5$ dehydrided at n=3 revealed Mg, ${\beta}-MgH_2$, a small amount of MgO and very small amounts of $MgH_2$ and $NbH_2$. The 90 wt% Mg-10 wt% $NbF_5$ had a higher initial hydriding rate and a larger quantity of hydrogen absorbed for 60 min than the 90 wt% Mg-10 wt% MnO and the 90 wt% Mg-10 wt% $Fe_2O_3$, which were reported to have quite high hydriding rates and/or dehydriding rates. The 90 wt% Mg-10 wt% $NbF_5$ had a higher initial dehydriding rate (after an incubation period) and a larger quantity of hydrogen desorbed for 60 min than the 90 wt% Mg-10 wt% MnO and the 90 wt% Mg-10 wt% $Fe_2O_3$.