Tailoring the Structural and Hydrogen Storage Properties of High Entropy Alloys for Hydrogen Storage Applications

• Grant number: 24/07437-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: January 02, 2025
• End date: April 01, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Physical Metallurgy
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Floriano
• Grantee: Igor Spegiorin Vicente
• Supervisor: Sabrina Sartori
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Oslo (UiO), Norway
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/09126-9 - Design, Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrogen Storage Properties in Multicomponent Alloys of the TiZrNbCrNiCo and TiZrVFeNi System, BP.MS

Abstract

With the increasing climate changes and the imperative to shift towards sustainable energy solutions, this project, in collaboration with the Energy Storage Systems Group from the University of Oslo (UiO), Norway, aims to explore High Entropy Alloys (HEAs) for enhanced hydrogen storage capabilities, particularly targeting operations at low temperatures and pressures. By focusing on systems TiZrVFeNi and TiZrNbCrNiCo the project seeks to identify promising HEAs with different configurations of microstructures: i) HEAs with the high trend to form the single intermetallic C14 laves phase; ii) HEAs with the presence of dual phase: BCC+C14 laves phases. To guide the alloys' design, the methodology will be centered on semi-empirical parameters and thermodynamic calculations (CALPHAD method), running on Thermocalc software. The alloys will be synthesized through arc-melting, with the posterior characterization of their structural and microstructural properties using XRD and SEM/EDS. Hydrogen storage properties will be investigated through kinetics, cycling measurements, PCT isotherms, and in-situ XRD. Additionally, the project aims to evaluate the selected HEAs in real-world scenarios using a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer coupled to a metal-hydride PARR compressor, which is a novel approach in HEA research. By leveraging state-of-the-art research facilities and interdisciplinary collaborations at the University of Oslo, the project anticipates significant academic gains, including insights into current and future trends in renewable energy research, as well as personal and professional development opportunities in an international setting.