Structure and Dynamics of Molecular Hydrogen in the Interlayer Pores of a Swelling 2:1 Clay by Neutron Scattering

Neutron scattering has been used to reveal the structure and dynamics of molecular H 2 physisorbed into the two-dimensional pores of sparingly hydrated Ca-laponite clay. Thermal pretreatment of the clay at 415 K under vacuum yielded an interlayer composition in the 1.0–1.5 water molecules per Ca 2+ cation range and provided a vacant gallery height of 2.82 Å. This value is very well matched to the diameter of molecular hydrogen and allows intercalation of H 2 up to the point where a liquid-like monolayer is formed within the clay. At a low coverage of 0.1 H 2 per cation the isosteric heat of adsorption is 9.2 kJ mol –1 . Quasielastic neutron scattering experiments conducted at 40–100 K reveal two populations of H 2 within the clay. First, we find molecules that are localized close to the partially hydrated Ca 2+ cations. Second, we identify a more mobile liquid-like population whose motion is captured by jump diffusion. At 40 K, the H 2 diffusion coefficient is 2.3 ± 0.5 × 10 –5 cm 2 s –1 . This is an order of magnitude slower than the value extrapolated from bulk liquid H 2 .