Identifying catalyst in Li-N-H system by x-ray absorption spectroscopy

Chemical bonding states of titanium compounds in LiH and LiNH(2) mixture, which have been a candidate for a hydrogen storage material, have been examined by x-ray absorption spectroscopy measurement as the characterization of the catalysts. The results of x-ray absorption near-edge structure indicated that the Ti atoms in the Ti compounds, which had the catalytic effect on the kinetics of the hydrogen desorption properties, had a common electronic (chemical bonding) state. Additionally, this common electronic state of the Ti catalysts agrees with that of TiCl(3)center dot 5NH(3). These results indicated that TiCl(3)center dot 5NH(3) could act as the catalyst. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3606534]