Hydrogen absorption and desorption properties of Pd/Mg/Pd tri-layers prepared by magnetron sputtering

In this present work, a study on hydrogen absorption and desorption properties of Pd/Mg/Pd tri-layers, prepared by DC/RF magnetron sputtering has been conducted using XRD, FE-SEM and AFM. Hydrogenation of as-deposited Pd/Mg/Pd tri-layers was carried out at (50–150°C) temperatures in a fixed amount of hydrogen gas (100,000Pa). Hydrogen content in as-deposited and hydrogenated tri-layers have been estimated by Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis (ERDA) technique with 120MeV 107Ag+9 ions. The XRD study supported by ERDA data reveals the absorption of hydrogen in hydrogenated Pd/Mg/Pd tri-layers. The hydrogen desorption from Pd/Mg/Pd tri-layers is enhanced by “cooperative effect” caused by elastic interaction within interfacial region of Pd and Mg films. The maximum hydrogen absorption (8.4×1017 H atoms/cm2) has been observed at 125°C among all samples studied. Low desorption temperature (80°C) has been observed for Pd/Mg/Pd tri-layers. •Study of hydrogen absorption and desorption properties of Pd/Mg/Pd tri-layers•Preparation of Pd/Mg/Pd tri-layers by DC/RF magnetron sputtering•Hydrogen absorption in Pd/Mg/Pd tri-layers at 80°C temperature under 1barH2 gas•Measurement of H2 contents in Pd/Mg/Pd tri-layers using ERDA•Completely desorption of H2 from Pd/Mg/Pd tri-layers at low temperature (80°C)