57 Raman Spectroscopy of Lithium Hydride: Effects of Hydrogen Deficiency and Moisture Corrosion on Fluorescence

Lithium hydride is a light, hydrogenous material which has a variety of industrial applications including hydrogen storage, batteries, and neutron capture blankets for fusion reactors. Variation in the stoichiometry of Li to hydrogen will impact its usefulness in these applications and must be understood. Raman spectroscopy has been undertaken for the purpose of understanding the corrosion behavior of LiH due to water vapor which results in LiOH formation with the loss of hydrogen. Fluorescence is observed which varies based on the level of corrosion; however, variation in the fluorescence intensity was also observed for pristine LiH. This fluorescence is indicative of a defect site in the LiH lattice corresponding to a hydrogen deficiency. Fluorescence decreased dramatically when the sample was exposed to a hydrogen overpressure.