Preparation and hydrogen storage of activated rayon-based carbon fibers with high specific surface area

Abstract

Activated carbon fibers were prepared from rayon-based carbon fibers by two step activations with steam and KOH treatments. Hydrogen storage properties of the activated rayon-based carbon fibers with high specific surface area and micropore volume have been investigated. SEM, XRD and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) were used to characterize the samples. The adsorption performance and porous structure were investigated by nitrogen adsorption isotherm at 77 K on the base of BET and density functional theory (DFT). The BET specific surface area and micropore volume of the activated rayon-based carbon fibers were 3144 m 2/g and 0.744 m 3/g, respectively. Hydrogen storage properties of the samples were measured at 77 and 298 K with pressure-composition isotherm (PCT) measuring system based on the volumetric method. The capacities of hydrogen storage of the activated rayon-based carbon fibers were 7.01 and 1.46 wt% at 77 and 298 K at 4 MPa, respectively. Possible mechanisms for hydrogen storage in the activated rayon-based carbon fibers are discussed.