Depleted Uranium as Hydrogen Storage Material

Abstract

Large amounts of depleted uranium kept as uranium fluoride or solid form after enrichment of natural uranium is sought to be utilized in the form of UNiAl intermetallic compound for hydrogen absorber. First principles calculation on UNiAl hydride has been performed in this study to predict the change of the crystal structure and the lattice constants with varying the hydrogen content. The results of the calculations have supported the experimental trends, suggesting that the present approach is promising in predicting the better hydrogen absorber based on depleted uranium.