Probing the dynamics of sodium amide across the melt transition

Sodium amide has recently been explored as a highly active catalyst for the decomposition of ammonia to hydrogen. However, relatively little is known about the structure and dynamics of the material, particularly in the melt phase which is of direct relevance to its catalytic activity. We propose to conduct a three-part investigation of sodium amide (and its deuterated analogue) using the VESUVIO spectrometer. We will probe the kinetic energy and momentum distribution of the hydrogen/deuterium across the melt transition, and simultaneously use neutron transmission measurements to clarify the density of the material in the melt, which is not currently well-understood. Finally, we will make use of the new high-resolution detector to investigate the broadening of the gamma resonance peak to determine its relationship to the kinetic energy of the sodium ions.