3d-transition metal induced enhancement of molecular hydrogen adsorption on Mg(0001) surface: An Ab-initio study

Abstract

In our effort to do first principles design of suitable materials for hydrogen storage, we have explored the interaction characteristics of a hydrogen molecule with pure as well as a 3d-transition metal (TM) atom doped Mg(0001) surface using density functional theory (DFT) based approach. Doping of a 3d-TM atom by creating a vacancy on the top most layer of Mg(0001) surface, enhances the molecular hydrogen adsorption efficiency of this surface by ~ 6 times. The TM atom gains some charge from the defected site of the Mg(0001) surface, becomes anionic and adsorbs the hydrogen molecule via Anti Kubas-type interaction. The interaction energy of this H2 molecule, including van der Waals dispersion correction, turns out to be ~ 0.4 eV, which falls in the right energy window between physisorption and chemisorption. On full coverage of this 3d-TM atom doped Mg(0001) surface with hydrogen molecules, the gravimetric density of hydrogen has been estimated to be ~ 5.6 wt %, thereby satisfying the criteria set by the department of energy (DOE) for efficient hydrogen storage.