Neutron diffraction study of the deuterides of Zr0.9Ti0.1MnCr Laves phase alloy

The structures of three deuterides with different D contents for C14-type Laves phase Zr0.9Ti0.1MnCr alloy are studied by neutron and X-ray diffraction. A saturated deuteride containing ∼3.5 D per mole of alloy is formed at 500 kPa. The structures of the deuterides are similar to that of ZrMn2D3 with all D atoms in the interstices formed by two Zr/Ti and two Mn/Cr atoms. The lattice constants of a deuteride formed at desorption stage appear to be larger than that of the saturated deuteride with higher D concentration. A solid solution containing ∼0.1 D per mole of alloys is formed after de-hydrogenation. The remaining D atoms are in the more stable sites, which possess greater atom affinity and larger interstitial size. Strong diffuse scattering apparently due to hydrogen-induced amorphization has been observed in the diffraction patterns of the deuterides