Hydrogen absorption properties of a slurry system composed of a magnesium alloy powder and C6H6

The hydrogen absorption properties of slurries composed of La1.8Ca0.2Mg17−xNix alloy powder suspended in liquid C6H6 were investigated. It is found that the La1.8Ca0.2Mg14Ni3 in benzene liquid has similar hydrogen absorption properties as that of the hydrogen-alloy (gas–solid) reaction and the alloy has a strong catalytic effect on hydrogenation reaction of C6H6. The amount of hydrogen absorbed and the hydriding kinetics are related to the temperature, the solid/liquid weight ratio and the surface catalytic activity of the alloy. When the temperature of the slurry is ∼473 K, it acquires a good hydriding rate. The hydrogen absorption capacity of the slurry system composed of 50 wt.% La1.8Ca0.2Mg14Ni3 alloy and 50 wt.% C6H6 reaches 5.5 wt.% of hydrogen at 483 K and 4.5 MPa in 240 min. Results of XRD, XPS and SEM analysis on the crystal structure, surface structure and configuration of the alloy correlated with its catalytic activity are reported and discussed.