Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanoparticles decorated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) for hydrogen storage

R. Naresh Muthu, S. Rajashabala and R. Kannan

Renewable Energy, 2016, vol. 85, issue C, 387-394

Abstract: Hydrogen is considered as the most promising clean energy carrier because of its abundance, environmental friendliness and high conversion efficiency. However, developing safe, compact, light weight and cost-effective hydrogen storage materials is one of the most technically challenging barriers to the widespread use of hydrogen as fuel. The present work reports the hydrogen storage performance of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)/hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanocomposites (MWCNT/h-BN), where ultrasonication method is adopted for the synthesis of the MWCNT/h-BN nanocomposites. Hydrogenation process was carried out using Seiverts-like hydrogenation setup. Characterization techniques such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Micro-Raman Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isothermal studies (BET), CHN-elemental analysis and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) were used to analyze the samples at various stages of the experiment. A maximum of 2.3 wt% hydrogen storage is achieved in the case of acid treated MWCNTs (A-MWCNT) with 5 wt% of h-BN nanoparticles compared to pure MWCNTs that could store 0.15 wt% only. Moreover the calculated binding energy (0.42 eV) of stored hydrogen of A-MWCNT with 5 wt% of h-BN nanocomposite lies in the recommended range of binding energy (0.2–0.6 eV) for fuel cell applications. The TG study shows that 100% desorption is achieved at the temperature range of 120–410 °C and confirms that the prepared hydrogen storage medium will serve effectively in the realm of hydrogen fuel economy in near future.

Keywords: Acid treated MWCNTs; MWCNT/h-BN nanocomposites; Micro-Raman spectroscopy; Hydrogen storage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:85:y:2016:i:c:p:387-394

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.06.056

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