TiCrNb hydride fabricated by melt spinning as the efficient catalyst for enhancing the hydrogen storage properties of MgH2

• Melt-spun Ti 45 Cr 40 Nb 15 catalyzed MgH 2 exhibited exceptional hydrogen performance. • The onset dehydrogenated temperature of the composite is reduced to 163 °C. • The apparent activation energy E a of dehydrogenated reaction has reduced by ∼50%. • The destabilization of Mg-H bonds is preferential occurred at the phase interfaces. Magnesium hydride (MgH 2 ) has garnered significant attention as a promising material for high-capacity hydrogen storage. However, its commercial application remains challenging due to the high operating temperature and slow reaction kinetics. In this study, melt-spun Ti 45 Cr 40 Nb 15 (with a BCC phase) hydride (designated as TiCrNbH x− MS) was synthesized and used to form a nano-multiphase composite to improve the de-/rehydrogenation properties of MgH 2 through ball milling. The incorporation of TiCrNbH x− MS was shown to significantly enhance the hydrogen de-/rehydrogenation properties of MgH 2 . The MgH 2 + 20 wt% TiCrNbH x− MS composite exhibits an appealing initial dehydrogenation temperature of 163 °C and can absorb hydrogen at room temperature. Notably, it releases 5.8 wt% hydrogen in 700 s at 230 °C and recharges 4.3 wt% hydrogen in just 2 mins at 150 °C. Even after 100 cycles, it retains a reversible hydrogen capacity of 4.98 wt%. Kinetic analysis revealed that the dehydrogenation rate follows the Chou surface penetration model. Microstructural analysis showed that the FCC phase of the melt-spun TiCrNbH x− MS hydride reversibly transformed into the BCC phase during the de-/rehydrogenation process in the composite. Numerous phase interfaces were generated and uniformly dispersed on the MgH 2 surface, providing additional hydrogen diffusion pathways and heterogeneous nucleation sites for Mg/MgH 2 , thereby further improving the hydrogen de-/rehydrogenation kinetics of the system. This study offers valuable insights into the use of multiphase composites to enhance MgH 2 performance.