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Lehmann_04051301_2018.pdf
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- This document deals with the electrochemical hydriding of the nickel which is a production technology of hydrogen in the solid state in the form of nickel-metal hydride. This method involves adsorbing the atoms of hydrogen produced by the reduction of water on the surface. Theses atoms are then absorbed so that they diffuse in the metal. Advantages and drawbacks are detailed and this storage technology is compared to other known techniques : the compression and the liquefaction of hydrogen. The hydrogen is released by alkaline electrolysis of water, a green method of hydrogen production. This technique will be detailed to understand all involved parameters as well as the theory relative to the electrochemistry of the electrolysis. This article examines also the current state of knowledge and technology of hydrogen production by water electrolysis or by other ways. Nickel is used as a cathode to produce hydrogen by electrolysis and to absorb the hydrogen in the form of nickel-metal hydride. Its advantages are clarified for both functions. The objective of the document is to find the best parameters to produce most easily possible i.e. with the lowest supplied potential possible some hydrogen by electrochemical hydruration of nickel. The equipment, the parameters and the experiments are detailed. These experiments will allow to analyze the influence of various parameters : the partial pressure of argon during the nickel deposition, the used cell, the bubbling and the time of bubbling, the contact between the nickel and the working electrode. An optimal combination of these parameters is finally presented to obtain the best productivity: a larger partial pressure of argon, a longer time of bubbling and a contact between the nickel and the worling electrode done by nickel. Ways of improvement are proposed.