Chemical Bonding of AlH(3) Hydride by Al-L(2,3) Electron Energy-Loss Spectra and First-Principles Calculations

In a previous study, we used transmission electron microscopy and electron energy-loss (EEL) spectroscopy to investigate dehydrogenation of AlH(3) particles. In the present study, we systematically examine differences in the chemical bonding states of Al-containing compounds (including AlH(3)) by comparing their Al-L(2,3) EEL spectra. The spectral chemical shift and the fine peak structure of the spectra were consistent with the degree of covalent bonding of Al. This finding will be useful for future nanoscale analysis of AlH(3) dehydrogenation toward the cell.