Local structure of ball-milled LaNi$_{5}$ hydrogen storage material by Ni K-edge EXAFS

Local structure of the nanostructured LaNi{sub 5} hydrogen storage alloys, prepared by ball-milling, has been studied using Ni K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. Results indicate that the ball-milling up to 100 h results in the production of nanoparticles characterized by large atomic disorder and slightly reduced unit-cell volume, compared to the bulk LaNi{sub 5}. High temperature annealing appears to help in partial recovery of atomic order in the ball-milled samples; however, long-time ball-milled samples retain large disorder even after the high temperature annealing. The results suggest that the large disorder and the reduced unit-cell volume might be causing a higher energy-barrier for the hydride-phase formation in the long time ball-milled LaNi{sub 5} powders. - Graphical Abstract: X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern (left panel) and Fourier transforms of the Ni K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy (right panel) of bulk LaNi{sub 5} hydrogen storage material (structure model is given in the middle) together with the same after 100 h ball-milling. Milled samples show a remarkable reduction intensity and broadening of the XRD peaks. Substantial damping of the amplitude and a slight shrinkage of the profile are observed in the EXAFS spectrum. These results indicate that the ball-milling up to 100 h results in the production of nanoparticles characterized by slightly reduced unit-cell volume and substantial atomic disorder compared to the bulk LaNi5. High temperature annealing appears to help in partial recovery of atomic order in the ball-milled samples; however, long-time ball-milled samples retain the disorder even after the high temperature annealing. The results suggest that the large disorder and the reduced unit-cell volume might be causing a higher energy-barrier for the hydride-phase formation in the long-time ball-milled LaNi{sub 5} powders.