Hydrogen storage in platinum loaded single-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

To study the hydrogen storage capacity, platinum (Pt) nanoparticles were deposited on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) using hexachloroplatinic acid (H2PtCl6·6H2O) as a precursor. To verify Pt deposition on the surface of the SWNT, a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) was used to obtain surface morphology. The TEM images show that Pt nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed on the surface of SWNT. Commercial SWNT were also used to compare the results. Thermal Gravimetric Analysis at heating rate of 5 °C/min is measured for pure SWNT and Pt loaded SWNT. Before hydrogen storage measurements these samples were reduced in 10% of H2 in Ar, flowing at 900 °C in a tubular furnace for 1 hour. Hydrogen storage capacity of these SWNT was investigated under 25 bar pressure and room temperature as well as liquid nitrogen temperature.