In this thesis, we use first-principles calculations to study the structural, electronic, and thermal properties of several complex hydrides. We investigate structural and electronic properties of Na-Li alanates. Although Na alanate can reversibly store H with Ti catalyst, its weight capacity needs to be improved. This can be accomplished by partial replacement of Na with lighter elements. We explore the structures of possible Na-Li alloy alanates, and study their phase stability. We also study the structural and thermal properties of Li/Mg/Li-Mg Amides/Imides. Current experimental results give a disordered model about the structure of Li-Mg Imide, in which the positions of Li and Mg are not specified. In addition the model gives a controversial composition stoichiometry. We try to resolve this controversy by searching for low-energy ordered phases. In the last part, we study the structural, energetic, and electronic properties of the La-Mg-Pd-H system. This quaternary system is another example of hydrogenation-induced metal-nonmetal transition without major reconstruction of metal host structure, and it is also with partial reversible H capacity. Experiment gives partially disordered H occupancy on two Wyckoff positions. Our calculation explains the structural and bonding characteristics observed in experiment.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:GATECH/oai:smartech.gatech.edu:1853/22672 |
| Date | 24 March 2008 |
| Creators | Ma, Zhu |
| Publisher | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Source Sets | Georgia Tech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Archive |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
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