X-ray Absorption Spectroscopic Study on Valence State and Local Atomic Structure of Transition Metal Oxides Doped in MgH2

A valence state and a local structure of transition metals (Nb, V, and Ti) in MgH2 doped with metal oxides (Nb2O5, V2O5, and TiO2nano) by ball milling were examined by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The main edge regions of the Nb, V, and Ti K-edges in the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) profiles are located between 0 and +5 in the oxidation states. Since these spectra coincide with those of NbO, VO, and Ti2O3, respectively, the additives are reduced by MgH2 to the metal oxides, which have lower oxidation states than those of the starting materials. Furthermore, in order to examine the local structures around the transition metal atoms, the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra were analyzed. In the Fourier transformation curves of the EXAFS spectra, all samples doped with the metal oxides show two peaks corresponding to metal-oxygen and metal-metal bonds, being the same as the references of NbO, VO, and Ti2O3. The local structure formed after ball milling or dehydrogenation is close to that of each of the reduced metal oxides (NbO, VO, and Ti2O3) but in a more disarrangement state.