Grain-growth mediated hydrogen sorption kinetics and compensation effect in single Pd nanoparticles

Abstract Grains constitute the building blocks of polycrystalline materials and their boundaries determine bulk physical properties like electrical conductivity, diffusivity ductility. However, structure evolution grains in nanostructured role grain reaction or phase transformation kinetics are poorly understood, despite likely importance catalysis, batteries hydrogen energy technology applications. Here we report an investigation (de)hydriding transformations individual Pd nanoparticles. We find dramatic single particle morphology upon cyclic exposure to hydrogen, which identify as reason for observed rapidly slowing sorption kinetics, origin kinetic compensation effect. These results shed light on impact growth processes occurring inside nanoparticles, provide mechanistic insight