Some future directions for metal hydride surface studies: electrons as probes of hydrogen

The current and possible future uses of electrons to detect hydrogen in metal hydride surfaces are reviewed. The available surface techniques, their sensitivity to hydrogen and the effects of electron beam damage are briefly evaluated. To underscore the utility of these ''electron-only'' techniques to study hydrides, the Auger electron and energy loss spectroscopic results for titanium hydride are given in some detail. As an example of the use of weak electron beam probing methods, tritium imaging, a newly developed technique for the positional detection of tritium, is described. Based on the current limited use of electron beams to probe hydride surfaces on the one hand and the variety of available techniques on the other, a widespread future application of electron beam techniques to study metal hydrides can be expected. (Auth.)