ANALYSIS OF THE SURFACE CONDITION OF TI4FE2OX

The surface conditions of powder compounds Ti4Fe2Ox (x = 0.5; 1.0) hav e been studied by means of the XPS method. As in the case of the alloy s, Ti1.1Fe, Ti1.1Fe0.9Mn0.1 and Ti1.1Fe0.8Cu0.1Ni0.1 studied earlier t he peculiarities of the XPS O 1s core-level spectra in Ti4Fe2Ox are al so observed. The peculiarities can be connected with oxygen-containing gas molecules chemisorbed on the alloy surfaces. The dependence of ac tivation temperature upon the type of oxygen-containing structures abs orbed on the alloy surfaces has been established. A physical model of the activation process for TiFe-based alloys is proposed. In this mode l, the surface oxides play an active role in distinction from the segr egation model where the oxides play a passive role. Copyright (C) 1996 International Association for Hydrogen Energy.