2026-09-24T05:09:06Zhttps://univendspace.univen.ac.za/server/oai/requestoai:univendspace.univen.ac.za:11602/31992026-06-18T01:00:30Zcom_11602_1923com_11602_1914com_11602_1897com_11602_737col_11602_2136col_11602_738
Nemangwele, Fhulufhelo
Mtshali, Christopher B.
Nemukula, Enos
2026
2026-06-17T19:01:49Z
2026-06-17T19:01:49Z
2026-05-19
Nemukula, E. 2026. Investigation of Pd-Ti and Ni-Ti Multilayer Thin Films for Enhanced Hydrogen Storage Capacity. . .
https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/3199
Nemukula E. Investigation of Pd-Ti and Ni-Ti Multilayer Thin Films for Enhanced Hydrogen Storage Capacity. []. , 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from:
Nemukula, E. (2026). <i>Investigation of Pd-Ti and Ni-Ti Multilayer Thin Films for Enhanced Hydrogen Storage Capacity</i>. (). . Retrieved from
Nemukula, Enos. <i>"Investigation of Pd-Ti and Ni-Ti Multilayer Thin Films for Enhanced Hydrogen Storage Capacity."</i> ., , 2026.
TY - Dissertation
AU - Nemukula, Enos
AB - The development of compact and secure storage solutions for hydrogen
in solid-state materials presents significant challenges and demands.
High-capacity storage technologies that operate effectively at low pressures
and exhibit favourable kinetics in absorption and desorption are essential
for hydrogen storage solutions. The slow kinetics of hydrogen adsorption
and desorption present limitations in metal hydride storage.
This investigation utilised advanced materials, specifically
palladium-coated and nickel-coated metals, to explore potential
enhancements in hydrogen adsorption and desorption. Palladium and
nickel act as adsorption catalysts, thereby enhancing the kinetics of
hydrogen diffusion into metal interstitial sites. This study examined the
multilayers of Pd-Ti and Ni-Ti, which were synthesised and evaluated for
hydrogen storage and the kinetics of absorption and desorption.
The Pd/Ti/Pd/Ti and Ni/Ti/Ni/Ti multilayers were fabricated using
an e-beam evaporator and annealed at different temperatures. Rutherford
backscattering spectroscopy confirmed the formation of multilayers,
consisting of pure palladium and nickel layers. The titanium layers in
both systems exhibited a significant amount of oxygen contamination (up
to 63 at.% in the Pd-based system and 61 at.% in the Ni-based system),
which was picked from the deposition chamber as residual gases. Hydrogen
profiling performed at iThemba LABS revealed a strong temperature
dependence of the hydrogen absorption in the multilayers. For both the
Pd-Ti and the Ni-Ti based systems, the hydrogen absorption peaked at
200 ◦C. For the Pd-Ti system, the average hydrogen concentration was
3.72 at.% and a total concentration of 51.34 at.%, while Ni-Ti multilayers
showed a maximum absorption of 2.58 at.% and a total hydrogen uptake
of 46.42 at.%. The hydrogen absorption declined at elevated temperatures,
which was likely due to hydrogen embrittlement and structural degradation.
X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of titanium hydrides and tracked
the phase transformation with temperature. Atomic force microscopy
revealed changes in the surface roughness and morphology. The surface
roughness showed the structural response to the hydrogenation temperature.
The root mean square roughness for both samples showed a correlation
with the total hydrogen content absorbed.
DA - 2026-05-19
DB - ResearchSpace
DP - Univen
LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za
PY - 2026
T1 - Investigation of Pd-Ti and Ni-Ti Multilayer Thin Films for Enhanced Hydrogen Storage Capacity
TI - Investigation of Pd-Ti and Ni-Ti Multilayer Thin Films for Enhanced Hydrogen Storage Capacity
UR -
ER -
M.Sc. in Physics
Department of Physics
The development of compact and secure storage solutions for hydrogen
in solid-state materials presents significant challenges and demands.
High-capacity storage technologies that operate effectively at low pressures
and exhibit favourable kinetics in absorption and desorption are essential
for hydrogen storage solutions. The slow kinetics of hydrogen adsorption
and desorption present limitations in metal hydride storage.
This investigation utilised advanced materials, specifically
palladium-coated and nickel-coated metals, to explore potential
enhancements in hydrogen adsorption and desorption. Palladium and
nickel act as adsorption catalysts, thereby enhancing the kinetics of
hydrogen diffusion into metal interstitial sites. This study examined the
multilayers of Pd-Ti and Ni-Ti, which were synthesised and evaluated for
hydrogen storage and the kinetics of absorption and desorption.
The Pd/Ti/Pd/Ti and Ni/Ti/Ni/Ti multilayers were fabricated using
an e-beam evaporator and annealed at different temperatures. Rutherford
backscattering spectroscopy confirmed the formation of multilayers,
consisting of pure palladium and nickel layers. The titanium layers in
both systems exhibited a significant amount of oxygen contamination (up
to 63 at.% in the Pd-based system and 61 at.% in the Ni-based system),
which was picked from the deposition chamber as residual gases. Hydrogen
profiling performed at iThemba LABS revealed a strong temperature
dependence of the hydrogen absorption in the multilayers. For both the
Pd-Ti and the Ni-Ti based systems, the hydrogen absorption peaked at
200 ◦C. For the Pd-Ti system, the average hydrogen concentration was
3.72 at.% and a total concentration of 51.34 at.%, while Ni-Ti multilayers
showed a maximum absorption of 2.58 at.% and a total hydrogen uptake
of 46.42 at.%. The hydrogen absorption declined at elevated temperatures,
which was likely due to hydrogen embrittlement and structural degradation.
X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of titanium hydrides and tracked
the phase transformation with temperature. Atomic force microscopy
revealed changes in the surface roughness and morphology. The surface
roughness showed the structural response to the hydrogenation temperature.
The root mean square roughness for both samples showed a correlation
with the total hydrogen content absorbed.
1 online resource (xv, 73, 15 leaves): color illustrations
en
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University of Venda
UCTD
Investigation of Pd-Ti and Ni-Ti Multilayer Thin Films for Enhanced Hydrogen Storage Capacity
Dissertation
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