Experimental study on the hydrogen storage and release in nano-graphite synthesized by explosive detonation

Abstract

In this article, synthesis of nanographite powders using pure TNT ( trinitrotoluene )explosives is reported. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) results indicated that the detonation product has a hexagonal-graphite structure and the average size of the particles of graphite is 1.86—2.61nm. Specific surface area of nano-graphite is about 500—650m2/g measured by BET gas sorption instrument.Crystal grain size of the nano-graphite calculated is 4.41—6.85nm by its specific surface area. A hydrogen storage and release capacity of 0.33—0.37 weight at room temperature under a modestly high pressure (12MPa) for untreated nano-graphte samples synthesized under different conditions. Under the same condition, the capacity of hydrogen storage and release of untreated carbon nanofibers、multi walled carbon nanotubes and superactive carbon is 0.15wt%—0.35wt％，0.15wt%—0.20wt％，0.92wt%—0.98wt％，respectively.The specific surface area of carbon nanostructured materials is the most important factor in its hydrogen storage and release.