Identifying catalyst in Li-N-H system by x-ray absorption spectroscopy

Chemical bonding states of titanium compounds in LiH and LiNH2 mixture, which have been a candidate for a hydrogen storage material, have been examined by x-ray absorption spectroscopy measurement as the characterization of the catalysts. The results of x-ray absorption near-edge structure indicated that the Ti atoms in the Ti compounds, which had the catalytic effect on the kinetics of the hydrogen desorption properties, had a common electronic (chemical bonding) state. Additionally, this common electronic state of the Ti catalysts agrees with that of TiCl3·5NH3. These results indicated that TiCl3·5NH3 could act as the catalyst.