LiAlH4 was modified by mechanical milling and with the addition of 5 wt.%
Fe2O3 in order to improve its hydrogen desorption properties. The composite
was milled for 1, 3, 5, 7 or 15min, and depending on the milling time,
various phenomena took place. Up to a milling time of 5min, the particle
size of the composite decreases. Further milling leads to the particles
agglomeration reaching the size of the starting material after 15min.
Moreover, the mechanical milling process leads to the transformation of AlH
- 4 to AlH 3 - 6 structure as a result of partial hydrogen desorption.
Hydrogen desorption during the milling is the most pronounced in the sample
milled for 15min, so this sample has only one hydrogen desorption peak in
the temperature-programmed desorption measurements.Mechanical milling with
the addition of Fe2O3 for up to 15min improves LiAlH4 hydrogen desorption
properties as hydrogen desorption temperature and apparent activation
energies decrease.