Intensified electrochemical hydrogen storage capacity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes supported with Ni nanoparticles

Abstract

The electrochemical hydrogen storage properties of Ni-supported multi-walled carbon nanotube (Ni/MWCNT) electrodes were investigated using charge/discharge (C&D) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques. Nickel NPs were deposited on the MWCNT surface, which was first chemically oxidized by H2SO4 and HNO3 (3:1, v/v). Hydrogen storage was carried out by using the Ni/MWCNT electrode as the working electrode in the electrochemical cell. A set of various current densities were applied to the cell to produce (C&D) cycles, and it became optimum corresponding to 1.5 mA current. According to the electrochemical test results, the highest electrochemical discharge capacity of 1625 mAh g−1 was obtained for the electrode with ratio of 4:1 (MWCNTs to Ni) in the initial cycle, which corresponded to 6.07 wt% H2. The storage capacity was increased and reached to 4909 mAh g−1 (18.34 wt% H2) after 20 cycles, and the electrode maintained the specific capacity as cycling continued. Thus, the Ni/MWCNT electrode displays an excellent cycle stability and a high capacity reversibility. CV measurements also showed that the electrochemical adsorption and desorption amount of hydrogen was increased by Ni loading onto the CNTs and indicated that the electrochemical hydrogen adsorption of the electrode has an activated period.