NMR study of hydride systems

The hydrides of thorium (ThH2, Th4H15 and Th4D15) and the intermetallic compound system (Zr(Vsub(1-x)Cosub(x))2 and its hydrides were investigated using the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique. From the results for the thorium hydride samples it was concluded that the density of states at the Fermi level n(Esub(f)) is higher in Th4H15 than in ThH2; there is an indirect reaction between the protons and the d electrons belonging to the Th atoms in Th4H15; n(E) has a sharp structure near Esub(f). It was also found that the hydrogen diffusion mechanism changes with temperature. From the results for the intermetallic compound system conclusions were drawn concerning variations in the electronic structure, which explain the behavior of the system. In hydrogen diffusion studies in several samples it was found that Co atoms slow the diffusion rate. Quadrupole spectra obtained at low temperatures show that the H atoms preferably occupy tetrahedral sites formed by three V atoms and one Z atom. (H.K.)