Amorphous metal alloy compositions for reversible hydrogen storage

A reversible hydrogen storage structure having an active hydrogen absorption surface layer said layer having an outside surface and an interface surface, and a bulk hydrogen storage material in contact with said surface layer at said interface surface, the active surfacd layer comprising a substantially amorphous metal alloy of the formula:

• A.sub.a M.sub.b M'.sub.c
• wherein
• A is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of
• Ag, Au, Hg, Pd and Pt;
• M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of
• Pb, Ru, Cu, Cr, Mo, Si, W, Ni, Al, Sn, Co, Fe, Zn, Cd, Ga and Mn;
• and
• M' is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of
• Ca, Mg, Ti, Y, Zr, Hf, Nb, V, Ta and the rare earths;
• and
• wherein
• a ranges from about 0.005 to about 0.80;
• b ranges from about zero to about 0.70;
• and
• c ranges from about 0.08 to about 0.95;
• the surface layer having a compositional gradient wherein a substantial portion of the A component of said alloy is disposed on the outside surface of said surface layer, the bulk storage material comprising a reversible hydrogen storage material.

A material for reversibly storing hydrogen comprising a substantially amorphous metal alloy having the formula:

• Pd.sub.a Ni.sub.b Zr.sub.c
• where
• a ranges from greater than zero to about 0.8,
• b ranges from greater than zero to about 0.7,
• c ranges from about 0.08 to about 0.95, and
• a plus b plus c equals about 1.00, wherein the alloy is compositionally graded so that a substantial portion of the palladium is disposed on the surface of the alloy.

A material for reversibly storing hydrogen comprising a substantially amorphous metal alloy having the formula;

• Pt.sub.a Ni.sub.b Zr.sub.c
• where
• a ranges from greater than zero to about 0.8,
• b ranges from greater than zero to about 0.7,
• c ranges from about 0.08 to about 0.95, and
• a plus b plus c equals about 1.00, wherein the alloy is compositionally graded so that a substantial portion of the platinum is disposed on the surface of the alloy.

A material for reversibly storing hydrogen comprising a substantially amorphous metal alloy having the formula:

• Pd.sub.a Ni.sub.b Ti.sub.c
• where a ranges from greater than zero to about 0.8,
• b ranges from greater than zero to about 0.7,
• c ranges from about 0.08 to about 0.95, and a plus b plus c equals about 1.00, wherein the alloy is compositionally graded so that a substantial portion of the palladium is disposed on the surface of the alloy.

A material for reversibly storing hydrogen comprising a substantially amorphous metal alloy having the formula;

• Pt.sub.a Ni.sub.b Ti.sub.c
• where
• a ranges from greater than zero to about 0.8,
• b ranges from greater than zero to about 0.7,
• c ranges from about 0.08 to about 0.95, and
• a plus b plus c equals about 1,00, wherein the alloy is compositionally graded so that a substantial portion of the platinum is disposed on the surface of the alloy.

A structure for reversibly storing hydrogen including an active hydrogen absorption surface layer said layer having an outside surface for contacting hydrogen and an interface surface, and a bulk hydrogen storage material in contact with said active surface layer at said interface surface, the active surface layer comprising a substantially amorphous metal alloy having the formula

• Pd.sub.a Ni.sub.b Zr.sub.c
• where
• a ranges from about 0.005 to about 0.80,
• b ranges from greater than zero to about 0.70,
• c ranges from about 0.08 to about 0.95, and
• a plus b plus c equals about 1.00, wherein the surface layer has a compositional gradient such that a substantial portion of the palladium of said alloy is disposed on the outside surface of said active surface layer, the bulk storage material comprising a material that can reversibly store hydrogen.

A structure for reversibly storing hydrogen including an active hydrogen absorption surface layer said layer having an outside surface for contacting hydrogen and an interface surface, and a bulk hydrogen storage material in contact with said active surface layer at said interface surface, the active surface layer comprising a substantially amorphous metal alloy having the formula

• Pt.sub.a Ni.sub.b Zr.sub.c
• where
• a ranges from about 0.005 to about 0.80,
• b ranges from greater than zero to about 0.70,
• c ranges from about 0.08 to about 0.95, and
• a plus b plus c equals about 1.00, wherein the surface layer has a compositional gradient such that a substantial portion of the platinum of said alloy is disposed on the outside surface of said active surface layer, the bulk storage material comprising a material that can reversibly store hydrogen.

A structure for reversibly storing hydrogen having an active hydrogen absorption surface layer said layer having an outside surface for contacting hydrogen and an interface surface, and a bulk hydrogen storage material in contact with said active surface layer at said interface surface, the active surface layer comprising a substantially amorphous metal alloy having the formula

• Pd.sub.a Ni.sub.b Ti.sub.c
• where
• a ranges from about 0.005 to about 0.80,
• b ranges from greater than zero to about 0.70,
• c ranges from about 0.08 to about 0.95, and
• a plus b plus c equal about 1.00, wherein the surface layer has a compositional gradient such that a substantial portion of the palladium of said alloy is disposed on the outside surface of said active surface layer, the bulk storage material comprising a material that can reversibly store hydrogen.

A structure for reversibly storing hydrogen having an active hydrogen absorption surface layer said layer having an outside surface for contacting hydrogen and an interface surface, and a bulk hydrogen storage material in contact with said active surface layer at said interface surface, the active surface layer comprising a substantially amorphous metal alloy having the formula

• Pt.sub.a Ni.sub.b Ti.sub.c
• where
• a ranges from about 0.005 to about 0.80,
• b ranges from greater than zero to about 0.70,
• c ranges from about 0.08 to about 0.95, and
• a plus b plus c equals about 1.00, wherein the surface layer has a compositional gradient such that a substantial portion of the platinum of said alloy is disposed on the outside surface of said active surface layer, the bulk storage material comprising a material that can reversibly store hydrogen.