Hydrogen Storage in Ni/graphene and Pd/graphene Nanomaterials
Date
2017-03-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
0000-0003-2053-7086
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Doctoral
Abstract
Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier that could be an alternative to the traditional carbon based fuels. Hydrogen storage in the Ni/graphene and Pd/graphene systems was investigated in the present work using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA).
A laboratory apparatus was designed, built and applied for hydrogenation under pressure. Novel synthesis methods were developed to synthesize the graphene-based composites. Multiple characterizations have been performed to understand the sorbent structures, including the component determination and distribution, chemical state, electronic structure and metal-graphene interfaces. The hydrogen storage behavior was determined, and a hypothesis was proposed to explain the hydrogen performance in the sorbents.
The Ni/graphene (5 at.% Ni, atomic percentage; 100 at.% : Ni + C) composite, charged with H2 pressure under 1 and 60 bar desorbed 0.14 wt.% H2 and 1.18 wt.%, respectively, in a TGA apparatus under a flow of argon, at room temperature. The hydrogen release could occur at an operating temperature below 150°C and was completed at 250°C.
The Pd/graphene (1 at.% Pd, 100 at.% : Pd + C) composite, charged under H2 pressure of 50 and 60 bar released 6.7 and 8.67 wt.% H2, respectively, in a TGA apparatus under a flow of argon, at room temperature. The 5%Pd/graphene (5 at.% Pd, 100 at.% : Pd + C) composite charged under 60 bar H2 and dehydrogenated under the same conditions in a TGA apparatus, released 7.16 wt.% H2. The composites could discharge hydrogen below 100°C and complete the process up to 200°C. The Pd/graphene system releases relatively high hydrogen storage capacity in TGA.
Description
Keywords
Hydrogen, Ni/graphene, Pd/graphene
Citation
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Program
Mechanical Engineering