Production of Aluminum Hydride by Hydrogen-Ion Bombardment

Abstract

An ultrapure aluminum target specimen was bombarded with 12.5‐MeV deuterons for 300 μA·h. The specimen was sufficiently thick so that all the hydrogen was trapped within it. At no time did the temperature exceed 300°F. X‐ray diffraction studies of the specimen indicated the formation of a new phase with the hexagonal structure predicted for aluminum hydride and d spacings which coincide with those given for aluminum hydride in the literature. Least‐squares analysis of 21 diffraction peaks shows a hexagonal structure with c/a=1.57±0.05, c=4.55±0.08 Å, and a=2.90±0.05 Å.