The surface morphology and the microstructure of commercially pure titanium specimens subjected to electron beam treatment with energy density varying from 12 to 25 J/cm(2) were studied using atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy as well as X-ray diffraction analysis. Lamellar alpha-phase structure of a thin surface layer of the specimens resulted from the treatment was shown to have a great effect on hydrogen sorption ability of the material as well as on hydrogen arrangement in titanium crystal lattice. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.