Composition of corrosion films on lithium hydride surfaces after exposure to air

An ion microprobe mass analyzer was used to investigate the reaction pathway for the formation of lithium hydroxide and lithium oxide on freshly cleaved lithium deuteride surfaces. Mass spectra were obtained from the lithium deuteride surfaces before and after exposure to room air, and the composition of the corrosion film was determined by depth-profiling methods. The corrosion film appears to be layered in the following manner: lithium hydroxide on lithium oxide on lithium deuteride. (auth)