Monte Carlo simulation of quasielastic neutron scattering from localised and long-range hydrogen motion in C15 Laves phase intermetallic compounds

A number of cubic C15 Laves phase intermetallic compounds are able to absorb large amounts of hydrogen. At low solute concentrations, the protons occupy tetrahedral interstitial sites, which form a network of hexagons. It is believed that the motion of hydrogen occurs on two distinct time-scales; a rapid localised motion around the hexagons, coupled with a slower long-range diffusion between hexagons. Results from Monte Carlo simulations of hydrogen diffusion in a Laves phase compound are presented. It is demonstrated that the incoherent quasielastic neutron scattering function, obtained from the simulations, can be interpreted in terms of a broad and a narrow Lorentzian component, emanating from hydrogen motion on the two time scales. The narrower component follows a Chudley-Elliot model, indicative of long-range diffusion, whilst the broader component can be interpreted in terms of localised motion. The calculated effective jump length for long-range diffusion is significantly in excess of the actual jump-length, in agreement with experimental observation. The model is briefly discussed in relation to hydrogen diffusion in ZrV2H1.1