Exploring several different routes to produce Mg- based nanomaterials for Hydrogen storage

Severe mechanical processing routes based on high-energy ball milling (HEBM) or severe plastic deformation (SPD) can be used to produce Mg nanomaterials for hydrogen storage applications. In the last few years, we have been exploring in our research group different SPD processing routes in Mg systems to achieve good activation (first hydrogenation) and fast H-absorption/desorption kinetics, combined with enhanced air resistance. In this paper, we compare SPD techniques applied to Mg with HEBM applied to MgH2. Both advanced – melt spinning (MS), high-pressure torsion (HPT) – and more conventional – cold rolling (CR), cold forging (CF)- techniques are evaluated as means of production of bulk samples with very refined microstructures and controlled textures. In the best SPD processing conditions, attractive H-absorption/desorption kinetic properties are obtained, which are comparable to the ones of MgH2 milled powders, even if the needed temperatures are higher – 350°C compared to 300°C.CR and CF stand out as the processes with higher potential for industrial application, considering the level of the attained hydrogen storage properties, its simplicity and low cost.