First-principles study of hydrogen diffusion in α-Al 2O3 and liquid alumina

• We have studied the energetics and mobility of neutral hydrogen in alumina Al2O3 using ab initio density-functional calculations. The mobility of hydrogen was studied in corundum (α-Al2O 3) as well as in liquid alumina. Using both static as well as molecular-dynamics calculations, and applying classical transition state theory, we derive the temperature-dependent diffusivity of hydrogen in α-Al 2O3 as D(T)=(21.7 × 10-8 m 2/s)exp(-1.24 eV/kT). The corresponding diffusivity of hydrogen in liquid/amorphous alumina, derived directly from ab initio molecular dynamics calculations, is D(T)=(8.71 × 10-7 m2/s)exp(-0.91 eV/kT). The computed diffusivity compares very well to experimental data. We conclude that diffusion of neutral hydrogen through the bulk of alumina is a good approximation of the mechanism for hydrogen mobility in corrosion scales. The representation of grain-boundary structures by amorphous alumina is, probably, realistic at higher temperatures.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik -- Korrosionsteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering -- Corrosion Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

aluminum oxide

hydrogen

ab initio calculation

article

corrosion

density functional theory

diffusion

energy transfer

molecular dynamics

temperature dependence

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)