Solvent-mediated partial ionicity enhances mechanical nanosizing effect of Mg-based hydrogen storage alloys

dipole structure. This increases the surface hardness of Mg-based alloy and maximizes the ball milling-driven structural deformation, thereby facilitating ion migration. Mg‒Mg bond breaking is caused by the resulting Coulombic repulsion between Mg atoms. These findings provide an affordable approach for nanoparticle fabrication of highly ductile materials.