Visualizing hydrogenation processes in palladium (Pd) in real-time is important to various hydrogen-involved applications. However, observing hydrogen diffusion of Pd was limited by its small permittivity variation, and the kinetics of lateral diffusion of hydrogen in Pd film was not reported. Here, we proposed an optical microscopy-based visualization of Pd hydrogenation from the diffusion surface to the interior by introducing a fast-response mechanical platform that transforms the hydrogen diffusion into self-organized ordered wrinkles with sharp optical contrast. This platform is a Au/Pd double layer on an elastomer, which results in directional hydrogenation from the sidewall to the interior. The kinetics of hydrogenation in the interior of the palladium along the diffusion direction was monitored in real-time. This platform will enable in situ visualization of atom/ion diffusion on metals that are crucial in energy storage and hydrogen detection.
Keywords: atom diffusion; palladium film; regular wrinkling; self-organization; visualizing hydrogenation.