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Hydrogen storage and permeation in metals and alloys
Hydrogen is one of the cleanest sources of renewable energy and development of advanced materials for the generation and storage of hydrogen is a key in maintaining the greenhouse gas emission low. Within Dr. Kiyonori Suzuki’s group in Materials Engineering, extensive research is being conducted into this class of materials with emphasis placed on novel Nb-based hydrogen permeation membranes and nanostructured Mg-based hydrogen storage alloys. They have recently discovered that the microstructure of Nb-based hydrogen permeation alloys can be reduced to as small as 10 nm by means of nonequilibrium material processing. Since both the solubility and the diffusivity of hydrogen in alloys have been known to be enhanced by nano-scale grain refinement, this nonequilibrium processing is expected to lead to novel nanostructured membrane alloys with exceptional hydrogen purification capability. New research facilities for characterization of hydrogen absorption-desorption and hydrogen permeation behaviours as well as a state-of-the-art cryogenic ball mill for preparation of Mg-based nanocomposite powders are currently being commissioned. Major collaborators include Prof. Aoki of Kitami Institute of Technology, A/Prof. Dahle of University of Queensland, A/Prof. Gray of Griffith University and Dr. Webley of Monash University. The projects have been funded by 2007 ARC Discovery Grant, 2007 ARC LIEF Grant, 2006 CSIRO National Research Flagship and 2007 NEDO small grant.
Kiyonori Suzuki
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