Hydrogen Materials Compatibility Studies
EMSL Project ID
37994
Abstract
We propose to use the world-class ion scattering facilities at EMSL to advance the understanding of the effects of high-pressure hydrogen on nanolaminate low friction coatings and piezoelectric materials by measuring hydrogen absorption behavior in piezoelectrics and nanolaminates under varied hydrogen exposure conditions. While the behavior of hydrogen in metals is well known, the behavior of hydrogen in piezoelectrics and nanolaminates is still poorly understood. The purpose of these measurements is to understand how these materials absorb and desorb hydrogen and under what conditions, where the hydrogen goes and how it behaves in the material and what affects it has on their functionality and material properties as well as ways to mitigate such effects. Only a handful of techniques exist that can detect the low levels of hydrogen in materials that we expect. EMSL has an excellent and unique suite of tools that have demonstrated excellence in detecting low levels of hydrogen absorbed in materials. Both piezoelectric and nanolaminates are integral parts of a major effort to make internal combustion (IC) engines compatible with clean burning hydrogen fuel. Further, there is a need to understand how to protect materials during frictional wear in hydrogen environments. The materials science challenges include rapid 'hydrogen fouling' of piezoelectric actuators and increased wear in hydrogen due to embrittlement. Recent research has found potential solutions to these problems in alternate piezoelectric materials and nanolaminate low friction coatings, which are designed to be inert to a hydrogen atmosphere. The EMSL research is critical to understanding the role of hydrogen in these materials and thus will help clear the roadblocks for zero emission hydrogen (or low emission hydrogen/natural gas hybrid) powered vehicles and for other uses of materials in hydrogen environments, including the emerging field of Ferroelectric RAM which suffers from many of the same hydrogen fouling issues.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2009-11-30
End Date
2010-12-05
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members
Related Publications
Alvine KJ, M Tyagi, C Brown, TJ Udovic, TJ Jenkins, and SG Pitman. 2011. "Hydrogen Species Motion in Piezoelectrics: A Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering Study." PNNL-SA-83365, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA. doi:10.1063/1.3691114
Alvine KJ, V Shutthanandan, BW Arey, CM Wang, WD Bennett, and SG Pitman. 2012. "Pb nanowire formation on Al/lead zirconate titanate surfaces in high-pressure hydrogen." Journal of Applied Physics 112(1):Article No. 013533. doi:10.1063/1.4731721
Alvine KJ, V Shutthanandan, WD Bennett, CC Bonham, DC Skorski, SG Pitman, ME Dahl, and CH Henager, Jr. 2010. "High Pressure Hydrogen Materials Compatibility of Piezoelectric Films." PNNL-SA-75033, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA. [Unpublished] [in press October 2010]