Cyclic hydrogenation and dehydrogenation property of LiNH₂ impregnated into Ni foam

Cyclic hydrogenation and dehydrogenation property of LiNH2 impregnated into the Ni foam was experimentally investigated, comparing with that of conventional LiNH₂ powder. The amount of dehydrogenation from the impregnated sample after activating was 4.3 mass% (without the weight of the Ni foam), and remained 3.3 mass% after the 49th cycle of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation, while the amount from the powder sample drastically decreased down to 0.5mass% until only the 11th cycle. The main origin of the superior cyclic property of the impregnated sample was attributed to the suppression of sintering, mainly due to release of the exothermic heat during the hydrogenation supported by the frames of the Ni foam.