Nanodispersed Mg-based powders received in a hydrogen-argon plasma flow and estimation of their application prospects as hydrogen storage materials

Nanodispersed powders, consisting of Mg, Mg and Ni, Mg and Pd, were synthesized in a water-cooled chamber in a hydrogen-helium mixture at atmospheric pressure. Plasma generation was carried out in HF arc discharge in an argon flow with one hollow electrode and the other — crucible with molten metal. The resulting powders were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence analysis and X-ray analysis. When adding nickel during the synthesis, magnesium particles with nickel coating were obtained. Synthesis with palladium resulted in producing magnesium particles with dispersed fine palladium inclusions. However, since the saturated steam pressure of palladium is 2–3 orders lower than that of nickel, then obtaining particles coated with palladium is only possible at higher palladium melt temperatures that we could achieve in this laboratory setup variant. As a possible application of the synthesized powders the possibility of their hydrogen storage usage was experimentally evaluated.