In Situ Observation of Electron-Beam-Induced NaH Decomposition in Graphene Nanoreactors by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Sodium hydride (NaH) was unprecedently embedded inside graphene nanobubbles via the discovered reaction between NaH and CO. With the graphene nanobubble as a nanoreactor for NaH, we directly observed the electron-beam-induced decomposition process of graphene-covered NaH by in situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry and electron energy loss spectroscopy, revealing its decomposition mechanism. This can provide guidance for the design of hydrogen storage materials.