Development of an Mg-Based Alloy with a Hydrogen-Storage Capacity over 6 wt% by Adding Graphene

Abstract

Graphene (multilayer graphene) was chosen as an additive to improve the hydrogen uptake and release properties of magnesium (Mg). Five weight percent of graphene was added to pre-milled Mg by milling in hydrogen (reaction-involving milling). The hydrogen uptake and release properties of the graphene-added Mg were investigated. The activation of Mg-5graphene, which was prepared by adding 5 wt% graphene to Mg pre-milled for 24 h, was completed after the second cycle (cycle number, CN = 2). Mg-5graphene had a high effective hydrogen-storage capacity (the quantity of hydrogen absorbed for 60 min) of 6.21 wt% at CN = 3 at 593 K in 12 bar H2. At CN = 1, Mg-5graphene released 0.46 wt% hydrogen for 10 min and 4.99 wt% hydrogen for 60 min. Milling in hydrogen is believed to create defects (leading to facilitation of nucleation), produce cracks and clean surfaces (leading to increase in reactivity), and decrease particle size (leading to diminution of diffusion distances or increasing the flux of diffusing hydrogen atoms). The added graphene is believed to have helped the sample have higher hydrogen uptake and release rates, weakly but partly, by dispersing heat rapidly.