Preparation of different graphene nanostructures for hydrogen adsorption

Abstract

In this study, different types of graphene were synthesized to investigate hydrogen adsorption capacity at different pressures (0–34 bar) at room temperature (298 K). Graphene and nanoporous graphene were prepared by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) method, using methane as a carbon source at a temperature of 900 °C over copper plates and nickel oxide nanocatalyst. The nickel oxide nanocatalyst was prepared by sol–gel method, whereas graphene oxide was prepared through modified Hummer's method. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission-scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Raman spectroscopy. The adsorption of hydrogen was done by volumetric method. High adsorption capacity was achieved in nanoporous graphene because of its high pore volume (2.11 cm3/g) and large specific surface area (850 m2/g). Hydrogen adsorption values for nanoporous graphene, graphene and graphene oxide were determined as 2.56, 1.70 and 0.74 wt%, respectively. In addition, the hydrogen adsorption of graphene nanostructures fitted nicely to the selected two-parameter and three-parameter adsorption isotherm models. The adsorption isotherm model coefficients have been found for a 0–34 bar pressure range. The parameter values for all adsorbents showed proper conformity to the model and experimental data. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.