Neutrons for Energy Materials

The sensitivity of neutrons to light elements such as hydrogen, lithium, boron, and sodium as well their ability to measure under realistic and in-operando conditions makes them especially suited to study energy materials. At Uppsala University research on battery materials as well as on materials for hydrogen storage fall into this category. Below you can read about some recent projects using neutron-based experimental methods.

Batteries based on magnesium are a promising alternative for lithium-ion batteries. The conductivity of these systems strongly depends on the chemical surroundings of the magnesium though. Inelastic neutron scattering and quasielastic neutron scattering were used in a recent study to measure the dynamic behaviour, such as reorientation of molecules, of a magnesium borohydride utilising the neutrons’ sensitivity to hydrogen.

Hydrogen and its isotopes can be absorbed in large quantities in many crystalline and amorphous metals. Such materials could therefore be applied for energy storage, hydrogen sensing, hydrogen purification or as metal hydride batteries. We use neutron reflectivity to quantify the hydrogen concentration and to measure the volume changes caused by the stored hydrogen in relevant materials.

Selected publications