Hydrogen sorption by carbon nanotubes and other carbon nanostructures

Abstract

We have analyzed the hydrogen storage capability of a set of carbon samples including a variety of carbon nanotubes, in the gas phase and in the electrolyte as well. The nanotube samples synthesized in our laboratory by pyrolysis of acetylene are of the multi-wall type. The hydrogen sorption properties of our synthesized nanotubes were compared with the properties of commercially available nanotubes and high surface area graphite as well. The nanotube samples and the high surface area graphite as well absorb hydrogen up to 5.5 mass% at cryogenic temperatures (77 K). However, at room temperatures this value drops to ≈0.6 mass%. The electrochemical experiments on the carbon samples showed a maximum discharge capacity of 2.0 mass% at room temperature (298 K). The hydrogen tends to covalently bind to carbon when the absorption takes place at elevated temperatures (>573 K). Therefore, hydrocarbons desorbed from the sample were analyzed by means of temperature programmed desorption measurements. We conclude that the adsorption of hydrogen on nanotubes is a surface phenomenon and is similar to the adsorption of hydrogen on high surface area graphite.