High-pressure and high-temperature x-ray diffraction cell for combined pressure, composition, and temperature measurements of hydrides

We present the design and construction of a high-pressure (200 bars) and high-temperature (600 degrees C) x-ray diffraction (XRD) cell for the in situ investigation of the hydrogen sorption of hydrides. In combination with a pressure, composition, and temperature system, simultaneous XRD and volumetric measurements become accessible. The cell consists of an x-ray semi-transparent hemispherical beryllium (Be) dome covering a heatable sample stage, which simultaneously allows sample temperatures of up to 600 degrees C in an applied hydrogen atmosphere of up to 200 bars. The system volume is as low as possible to maximize the precision of the volumetric measurements. Due to the high thermal conductivity of hydrogen, and in order to preserve the mechanical stability of the beryllium, the cell is water cooled. Its operability was studied on the example of the hydrogen absorption of Mg2Ni. The advantages and limitations of the proposed design are discussed. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3600668]