Recent Advances and Prospects in Design of Hydrogen Permeation Barrier Materials for Energy Applications—A Review

Abstract

The hydrogen infrastructure involves hydrogen production, storage and delivery for utilization with clean energy applications. Hydrogen ingress into structural materials can be detrimental due to corrosion and embrittlement. To enable safe operation in applications that need protection from hydrogen isotopes, this review article summarizes most recent advances in materials design and performance characterization of barrier coatings to prevent hydrogen isotopes’ absorption ingress and permeation. Barriers are crucial to prevent hydride formation and unwanted hydrogen effects to increase safety, materials’ lifetime and reduce cost for applications within nuclear and renewable energy. The coating may be applied on a material that requires protection from hydrogen pick-up, transport and hydride formation in hydrogen storage containers, in pipelines, spent nuclear fuel storage or in nuclear reactors. While existing, commercial coatings that have been much in use may be satisfactory for various applications, it is desirable to evaluate whether alternative coating concepts can provide a greater resistance to hydrogen isotope permeation along with other improved properties, such as mechanical strength and thermal resistance. The information presented here is focusing on recent findings within the past 5–7 years of promising hydrogen barriers including oxides, nitrides, carbon, carbide, MAX-phases and metals and their mechanical strength, hydrogen pick-up, radiation resistance and coating manufacturing techniques. A brief introduction to hydrogen permeation is provided. Knowledge gaps were identified to provide guidance for material’s research prospects.

Hydrogen Interactions with Defects in Materials

“…Ro ¨nnebroe et al recently reviewed the actual hydrogen barrier coatings like oxides, nitrides, carbon, carbides, MAX-phases (layered, hexagonal carbides and nitrides, with M being an early transition metal, A being an A-group element and X being either carbon and/or nitrogen) and metals. [67] Most of the recent work focusses on ceramic-based barrier coatings.…”

“…The hydrogen flux permeating through a material depends on the hydrogens diffusivity D i and solubility x H . Thus, the permeability P H is given by the product of both quantities, 67 …”

Mechanism and Evaluation of Hydrogen Permeation Barriers: A Critical Review

“…The hydrogen permeation issue has attracted attention, addition of hydrogen barring coatings as the most cost-effective solution has been proposed, and related reviews are available. − However, a comprehensive review regarding the most recent development in this area is still necessary. In this review paper, we will try to give a complete overview of hydrogen permeation barriers, examining in detail the following aspects: (1) the investigation of hydrogen permeation models and hydrogen barring mechanisms of different coatings, (2) the classification and exemplification of the current hydrogen barriers based on the proposed mechanisms, (3) the analysis of the influencing factors, and (4) the consequent discussion on the evaluation methods for assessing the quality of the hydrogen barriers and elaboration of the current problems that need to be overcome.…”

Evaluation of Hydrogen Gettering Rates Correlated to Surface Composition and Texture of Nickel-Plated Zircaloy Getters of Different Heat Treatment Procedures

“…Hydrogen in metals has been a research topic for several decades, either to store hydrogen for use as an energy carrier or to prevent hydrogen ingress [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Hydrogen can be stored in a variety of different classes of materials aiming for sufficient gravimetric and volumetric energy density that is required for a certain application, such as on-board vehicles, stationery storage or thermal energy storage [ 4 , 5 ].…”

“…The permeation of hydrogen isotopes through solid materials is accepted to proceed via surface adsorption, dissociation into atoms on the surface, diffusion in bulk, and, if permeating through the material, recombination coupled with desorption [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 ]. Hydrogen can be absorbed by physisorption on the surface, or chemisorption in the bulk of the substrate, which eventually, due to nucleation of the growth process, will result in the formation of hydride phases.…”