Effects of ultra-intense laser driven proton beam on the hydriding property of palladium

Abe, Hiroshi; Orimo, Satoshi; Kishimoto, Masahiko*; Aone, Shigeo*; Uchida, Hirohisa*; Daido, Hiroyuki; Oshima, Takeshi

We investigated the structure changes of a hydrogen storage alloy by ion irradiations, and its absorption property in order to obtain basic data and to elucidate relevant mechanisms of hydrogen absorption by the influence of the irradiation. In previous studies, the induction of vacancies in a hydrogen absorption alloy was found to be effective to increase in the hydrogen absorption rate. As well known, the rate of hydrogen absorption strongly depends upon the surface state of a hydrogen storage alloy because the dissociation of hydrogen molecules or water molecules needs electron change with the surface in the H gas or electrochemical reaction process. In this study, ion irradiations were made at a room temperature using the laser driven proton beam method, at Kansai Photon Science Institute, Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The beam treatment has several unique properties such as short pulse duration, high peak current, low transverse emittance, and wide energy range from KeV to MeV. The irradiation was used to modify the alloy surface using this equipment. From obtained results, the initial hydrogen absorption rate was found improved by the laser driven proton beam rather more effectively than a mono-energetic proton beam. Discussion is made on the correlation among proton irradiation (laser driven proton or mono-energetic proton) and the initial hydrogen absorption rate of the alloy. We argue about the usefulness of an energy spread beam.