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La1-xMgxNi4.25Al0.75 (x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) hydrogen storage alloys were prepared by a three-step induction melting. Their crystal structures and hydrogen storage properties were investigated. Results show that alloys with x=0.0 and 0.1 contain a single LaNi4Al phase; however, those with x=0.2 and 0.3 are composed of LaNi4Al, (La, Mg)Ni3 and AlNi3 phases. With x increasing from 0.2 to 0.3, the abundances of the secondary phases and the plateau pressures in the pressure-composition isotherms are lifted significantly. Meanwhile, their hydrogen storage capacities are remarkably reduced. It is found that the alloy with x=0.1 possesses the fastest absorption kinetics compared to the others as well as a good hydrogen capacity and a low plateau pressure.

Cr2AlC materials were irradiated with 7 MeV Xe26+ ions and 500 keV He2+ ions at room temperature. A structural transition with an increased c lattice parameter and a decreased a lattice parameter occurs after irradiation to doses above 1 dpa. Nevertheless, the modified structure is stable up to the dose of 5.2 dpa without obvious lattice disorder. The three samples irradiated to doses above 1 dpa have comparable lattice parameters and hardness values, suggesting a saturation of irradiation effects in Cr2AlC. The structural transition and irradiation effects saturation are ascribed to irradiation-induced antisite defects (CrAl and AlCr) and C interstitials, which is supported by the calculations of the formation energies of various defects in Cr2AlC. The irradiation-induced antisite defects and C interstitials may be critical to understand the excellent resistance to irradiation-induced amorphization of MAX phases., Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures