A new hexagonal C14 Laves phase hydrogen storage alloy and its deuteride ha
s been studied with neutron diffraction. The new Laves phase precipitated a
s a second phase when a vanadium-based solid solution, TiV3Ni0.56, was allo
yed with hafnium. From the structural refinements it was suggested that Hf
is situated at the A site and Ni at the B sites. The Ti and V occupancy cou
ld not be ascertained, but from structural consideration of related alloys,
supported by EDS analysis, we suggest that they occupy the A and B site, r
espectively. The deuterium atoms were located to mainly occupy one of the t
etrahedral A(2)B(2) interstices, resulting in the formula unit (Hf,Ti)(Ni,V
)(2) D-2. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.