Publications
Thermodynamic and kinetic characterization of H-D exchange in Pd and Pd alloys
A Sieverts apparatus coupled with an RGA is an effective method to detect composition variations during isotopic exchange. This experimental setup provides a powerful tool for the thermodynamic and kinetic characterization of H-D isotope exchange on metals and alloys. H-D exchange behavior during absorption and desorption in the plateau region in Pd have been investigated and reported here. It was found that in the plateau region of H-D-Pd system the equilibrium pressures are between those of H2-Pd and D2-Pd for both absorption and desorption and the equilibrium pressures are higher when the fractions of D in the Pd are higher. Adding a dose of gas H2 (or D2) to Pd-D (or Pd-H) system results in releasing of gas D2 and HD (or H2 and HD) in {beta}-phase of Pd-D (or {beta}-phase of Pd-H), but this does not happen in the plateau region. The equilibrium constants have been determined during exchange and it was found that they agree well with the calculated values reported in literature. The separation factor {alpha} values during exchange have been measured and compared with the literature values. The exchange rates have been determined from the exchange profiles and a first order kinetic model for the exchange of H-D-Pd systems has been employed for the analysis. The exchange activation energies for both directions, H2+PdD and D2+PdH, have been determined.