• synthesis of hydrogen separation membranes and analysis of their properties;

• synthesis and properties analysis of metals and their alloy hydrides designed for hydrogen storage;

• synthesis of hydrogen fuel cell elements – anodes, electrodes, cathodes – applying physical material deposition methods.

 

During the year 2008 state funded project Synthesis of nanocristalline metal hydrides, designed for hydrogen storage, applying ion-plasma methods was continued. A great deal of attention was paid to analyse processes of magnesium-nickel alloy surfaces, estimating dynamic properties of surface oxide barrier.

 

Hydrogen absorption and desorption were analysed separately. There was an attempt to analyse the interaction between Mg-Ni system and Ti additives, which in many other hydride systems (magnesium hydride, sodium alanate, etc.) improved hydrogen sorption properties.

 

Aiming to achieve project objectives, different composition (Mg-Ni-Ti) films were formed by magnetron sputtering method and their hydriding was carried out under different conditions. Later, films were investigated by in-situ methods, aiming at determining composition and structure of coating elements and hydrogen sorption properties. To understand the processes, researchers of Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies performed a mathematical simulation.

 

Activities in the field of hydrogen energy were also continued in 2008. EU Structural fund project Organization of Hydrogen Energy Technologies Training, implemented by Lithuanian Energy Institute (further LEI) and Vytautas Magnus University (further VMU), was completed. Training programme Energy and Environment, intended for VMU master students as well as LEI and VMU researchers, working in the field of hydrogen energy research, was developed. The programme provides knowledge necessary to develop and operate the following types of energy: nuclear energy, solar energy (photoelectric and thermal), wind energy, hydro energy, biomass energy (bio-fuel, bio-gas), geothermal energy as well as energy, extracted by using hydrogen fuel cells.

 

This project had its direct input to obtaining a financial support from European Regional Development Fund. The support has been approved and begun to be implemented – a Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies was to be completely established by the mid of the year 2009.

 

LEI together with VMU completed implementation of international hydrogen energy PhD studies (HyTRAIN) project. During the first year PhD Candidate Emmanuel Wirth from France came to Lithuanian Energy Institute, Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies, where he started his research. Before coming to Lithuania he had defended his Master thesis in the field of chemistry and material engineering. Together with his supervisor, Prof. Dr. Habil. Liudvikas Pranevičius, from VMU, Physics department, and scientific consultants, Dr. Constantina Filiou (JRC Institute for Energy), Dr. Darius Milčius (LEI), Emmanuel proposed a work theme Investigation of Dynamic Surface Barrier Effects on Hydrogen Storage Properties of Mg-Ni-bases Films.

 

 

During his first PhD year, Emmanuel actively worked in LEI laboratories, carried out deposition of Mg-Ni film and synthesis of nanocristalline powders using physical technologies of magnetron sputtering. Afterwards, sample hydrogenation and primary analysis of samples was performed. At the same time Emmanuel actively participated in VMU educational activity: he was one of the participants of project Organization of Hydrogen Energy Technologies Training, during the project seminars Emmanuel presented his work results, discussed them with other participants.

 

During his second year of PhD studies, Emmanuel went to continue his activities at Institute for Energy, Petten, The Netherlands, where using up-to-date equipment performed a thorough investigation of samples synthesised at LEI. Moreover, the student carried out part of the planned experiments at Ion beam physics department of the Rossendorf- Dresden Research Center. In these institutions the young researcher carried out investigations necessary not only for himself, but also enabled LEI and VMU to make contacts with institutions, which accepted him as a student.

 

In his third year of PhD studies, Emmanuel, together with researchers of LEI and VMU analysed results accumulated in two years and generalized them by mathematical model. Most of the results were published in three ISI journals and presented in international conferences.

 

Works by the PhD student were observed at international level – news agency FACTIVA-Dow Jones & Reuters submitted an informative report, where it was emphasized that works of Emmanuel Wirth and colleagues are innovative and in the future it may have a huge technological and economical impact on hydrogen storage in the field of material synthesis. Besides publication of results, Emmanuel prepared his PhD thesis, which was defended at VMU on 30 June 2008. The dissertation was acknowledged to meet the international requirements and the PhD Candidate was granted Doctor’s degree.

 

After thesis defence Emmanuel was proposed to participate in the competition of employees of scientific research division of Setaram Instrumentation (France). This company develops, sells and operates the most innovative gas absorption/desorption facilities worldwide. Emmanuel succeeded in the competition and was employed at Setaram Instrumentation. He is the first from all participants, who participated in HyTRAIN project, to have defended doctoral degree, whereas successful employment at international company only confirmed his value as a specialist. Thus it can be observed that the most gifted students not only leave Lithuania to gain the highest level education, but also arrive to Lithuania. Emmanuel’s performed scientific work and cooperation with LEI Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies and researchers of VMU revealed that there are specialists in the country, who are able to organize and implement scientific research of the highest level in the field of hydrogen storage material synthesis. In the year 2008 activities were completed in international thermonuclear energy (FUSION) project – Characterisation of Tungsten Films Used in Thermonuclear Synthesis Reactors, during which tungsten and tungsten carbide films were formed, thorough investigation of their properties was carried out.

 

In the year 2008 supplementary Sixth Framework programme specific support action project HYSIC: Enhancing International Cooperation in Running FP6 Hydrogen Solid Storage Activities was completed. During its implementation cooperation with international researchers, working in the field of hydrogen storage, was promoted, exchange of samples, data and knowledge was initiated. During the activities, Mg-Ni film synthesis was carried out at two independent magnetron systems during magnetron cosputtering process. Formed metal films were hydrided in stainless steel container and transparent quartz tube. After hydrogenation, films were investigated thoroughly using an X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, differential scanning colorimeter, and Furje x-ray spectrometer.

 

Cooperating activities with partners from Nordic countries were continued within network project Nordic Centre of Excellence for Hydrogen Storage Materials. There was an attempt by using nonequilibrium technologies to synthesize magnesium and aluminium hydrides, containing a small amount of aluminium and magnesium additives. It is expected that due to experimental magnetron sputtering technologies it will be possible to escape intermixture limits of materials (magnesium and aluminium), developed by traditional equilibrium methods.

 

 

 

In the meeting of International Energy Agency Hydrogen Implementation Agreement 59th Executive Committee, which took place on 5-7 of November 2008, in Athens, Greece, the anniversary of valuable activity of academician professor Jurgis Vilemas and his input in the Committee during the period 1999-2008 was commemorated.  The chairman of the committee Prof. Antonio Garcia-Conde presented Prof. Vilemas with the gift of remembrance.

The researchers of the Centre participated in investigations of International Energy Agency Hydrogen Implementation Agreement Task 22 – Fundamental and Applied Hydrogen Storage Materials Development. In this activity, chemical destabilization of metals and their alloy hydrides was carried out by introducing 30 June 2008. Emmanuel Wirth defends his PhD thesis new elements into materials, which might impose two affects: i) to form intermediate derivatives during hydride decomposition, thus not allowing the system to get fully relaxed to the lowest energy state, or ii) to form a destabilized hydride during hydriding.

 

Researchers of the Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies actively participated in COST action 542 Efficient Energy Storage for Mobile and Stationary Equipment. Main types of supercapacitors and used materials were introduced, research concerning replacement of expensive metal (Pt, Pd) catalysts with Ni / NiO thin layer structures was carried out. Application of industrial thin layer carbon structures, obtained using plasma spray methods and NiOx thin layer structures, obtained using magnetron sputtering methods on graphite GR 280 in supercapacitor electrode synthesis was investigated. Usage of these materials in the future should significantly reduce the price of supercapacitors. Obtained materials and structures were analysed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy methods. Measuring scheme of capacitor capacity was constructed. The first experiments of capacity measurement were carried out.

 

Research results of the year 2008 were published in 13 scientific articles in international journals, 7 international and 1 national conferences and 2 science promoting articles.

 

Martynas Lelis made his internship at Stockholm University, group of Prof. Dag Noreus, during 7–27 of February 2008.