Chemical vapor deposition of scandium hydride

A method is developed for growing scandium hydride (ScH₂) crystals from the vapor phase. Nucleation and growth of the hydride occur on metallic Mo when vapors of ScCl₃ and an excessive amount of a reducing metal (Na or Mg) are mixed in a flow of H₂ gas at atmospheric pressure at temperatures in the 800–970°C range. Crystal morphology ranges over dendrites, needles, minute single crystals, rods, films, and whiskers, depending principally on the reducing metal used and the partial pressure of the ScCl₃.