Chemical and Phase Transformations in the Systems Hydrogen-Sorbing Intermetallic Compound-Diborane

The reactions of the intermetallic compounds CeFe₂, CeCo₂, and 3-ScFe₂ with B₂H₆ at 4.8×10³ Pa, 293-573 K, and various contact times were studied. CeFe₂ decomposes in the presence of diborane to give CeH_1.9-2.2, Ce₂Fe₁₇H_8-10, -Fe, CeCo₂ decomposes into the cerium trihydride CeH_2.7-2.8 and -Co, whereas ₃-ScFe₂ forms an ScFe₂H_0.4-0.5 hydride phase. Therewith, with CeFe₂ and CeCo₂, diborane decomposes into solid nonvolatile X-ray amorphous various-composition compounds (BH _mn , as well as H₂ and B₅H₉, while with ₃-ScFe₂, into H₂, B₄H₁₀, B₅H₉, B₅H₁₁, and (BH _{m) n} .