Efficient Hydrogen Storage Research Articles

Green fabrication of cost-effective and sustainable nanoporous carbons for efficient hydrogen storage and CO2/H2 separation

In this study, sustainable nanoporous carbon materials that are efficient, renewable, cost-effective and adaptable were developed. These microporous feature carbon adsorbents were synthesized utilizing a straightforward and efficient method. Plum stones are residual fruit materials that offer a financially feasible and sustainable carbon source with exceptional porosity and desirable elemental composition. The plum stones underwent carbonization and were subsequently chemically modified with polyaniline nanofibers and then subjected to chemical activation using different activating agents. This yielded sustainable nanoporous carbon with a high degree of porosity, in conjunction with doping with precious high electron density elements such as O, N and S. The sustainable nanoporous carbons that have been developed exhibits exceptional microporosity, with BET-SSA of 1705 m2 g−1 and a pore volume of 0.726 cm3 g−1, besides, the dominance of ultramicropores of 0.6 nm size. This in addition to convenient doping of oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur elements which are crucial for H2 uptake. The developed nanoporous carbon demonstrated highly promising capabilities for storing H2 molecules at cryogenic and ambient temperatures. The sustainable adsorbent achieved hydrogen storage capacities of 4.63 and 0.45 wt% at 77, 296 K, and a pressure of 40 and 80 bar, respectively. This H2 storage capacity at RT is often regarded as one of the highest reported in the literature for nanoporous adsorbents. Moreover, study investigated the separation selectivity of developed adsorbents for CO2/H2 based on uptake ratio at 30 bar and RT. The results demonstrated a significant separation selectivity reaching a value of 382.5 for the CO2/H2, which is regarded as one of the most elevated values documented in the existing literature for nanoporous carbon materials. Thus, the presented sustainable nanoporous materials have shown great promise for hydrogen storage, pre-combustion CO2 capture and H2 purification applications at ambient temperature.

Study and design of a Hydrogen liquefaction process using ethane as refrigerant fluid

Hydrogen liquefaction is an essential process in cryogenics, facilitating the efficient storage and transport of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. This study investigates the liquefaction of hydrogen at a flow rate of 100 kmol/h, with an energy consumption of 447.05 kW. The process relies on sophisticated equipment, including multi-stage compressors and expansion devices, which play key roles in cooling and compressing the hydrogen gas. One of the notable advantages of this system is the energy recovery achieved by an expansion device, which generates 262.1 kW, enhancing overall efficiency.The hydrogen compression stages use a multi-stage compressor that employs water as the primary coolant. With a flow rate of 389.4 kmol/h, water is chosen due to its high specific heat capacity and availability, making it an ideal coolant for this cryogenic process. Ethane, serving as a secondary refrigerant, operates at a flow rate of 32 kmol/h. Its non-corrosive and inert properties contribute to system durability, while a portion of the ethane is strategically recycled through heat exchangers to minimize consumption and optimize cooling efficiency. Hydrogen enters the system at 5×10⁵ Pa and 288 K, and is gradually cooled and compressed to 2×10⁵ Pa and 22.75 K, resulting in the final liquid hydrogen product. This significant temperature reduction, achieved through the combined cooling effects of water and ethane, is critical for the successful liquefaction of hydrogen. The optimized use of refrigerants and efficient energy recovery in the expansion stages reduce operational costs and enhance process sustainability.

First principles investigation of structural, elastic, thermoelectric, electronic and optical properties XH3 (X=Ac, La) for hydrogen storage

Efficient hydrogen storage is essential for its use as an energy source. Considering the various methods, hydrogen storage in solid materials shows great promise but requires further research. This study employs density functional theory using the Wien2k, with the LSDA method to determine the stability of this storage mode, and LSDA + mBJ to calculate the electronic, optical, and thermoelectric properties of AcH3 and LaH3. The electronic properties reveal that XH3 (X = Ac, La) exhibits a semiconducting nature with indirect energy gaps in both cases. The analysis of hydrogen storage properties determined the gravimetric hydrogen storage capacities for AcH3 and LaH3 to be 1.297 and 2.086 wt%, respectively. Calculations of the elastic constants validated the mechanical stability of these compounds. Thermoelectric characteristics, including electrical and thermal conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, electronic specific heat capacity, and Pauli magnetic susceptibility, have been evaluated, highlighting their p-type characteristics. The figure of merit indicates their potential for thermoelectric devices. Gravimetric ratios suggest significant hydrogen storage capacity, which could contribute to various transportation and energy applications.

The integral role of high‐entropy alloys in advancing solid‐state hydrogen storage

AbstractHigh‐entropy alloys (HEAs) have emerged as a groundbreaking class of materials poised to revolutionize solid‐state hydrogen storage technology. This comprehensive review delves into the intricate interplay between the unique compositional and structural attributes of HEAs and their remarkable hydrogen storage performance. By meticulously exploring the design strategies and synthesis techniques, encompassing experimental procedures, thermodynamic calculations, and machine learning approaches, this work illuminates the vast potential of HEAs in surmounting the challenges faced by conventional hydrogen storage materials. The review underscores the pivotal role of HEAs' diverse elemental landscape and phase dynamics in tailoring their hydrogen storage properties. It elucidates the complex mechanisms governing hydrogen absorption, diffusion, and desorption within these novel alloys, offering insights into enhancing their reversibility, cycling stability, and safety characteristics. Moreover, it highlights the transformative impact of advanced characterization techniques and computational modeling in unraveling the structure–property relationships and guiding the rational design of high‐performance HEAs for hydrogen storage applications. By bridging the gap between fundamental science and practical implementation, this review sets the stage for the development of next‐generation solid‐state hydrogen storage solutions. It identifies key research directions and strategies to accelerate the deployment of HEAs in hydrogen storage systems, including the optimization of synthesis routes, the integration of multiscale characterization, and the harnessing of data‐driven approaches. Ultimately, this comprehensive analysis serves as a roadmap for the scientific community, paving the way for the widespread adoption of HEAs as a disruptive technology in the pursuit of sustainable and efficient hydrogen storage for a clean energy future.

Modeling and design for metal hydride-based hydrogen storage systems in underwater PEMFC applications

Utilizing metal hydride materials presents a promising avenue for establishing a highly concentrated hydrogen medium suitable for onboard vehicle applications, including underwater contexts. This paper introduces a design solution devised to estimate the characteristics of a metal hydride-based hydrogen storage system tailored for underwater vehicle deployment. The solution facilitates sensitivity analysis across various parameters by offering system mass and volume estimations. The findings highlight the significance of thermodynamic properties and operational conditions in determining the suitability of metal hydrides for compact and efficient hydrogen storage. The study underscores the importance of refueling time, L/D ratio, cooling fluid temperature and velocity, and hydrogen storage capacity in influencing system mass, volume, and thermal management. The model provides insights into the design and optimization of metal hydride-based hydrogen storage systems, offering a comprehensive approach to enhancing performance and reliability for underwater applications.

Water-in-oil emulsions as micro-reactors for achieving extremely rapid and high hydrogen uptakes into clathrate hydrates

As humanity transitions to a low-carbon future, hydrogen, with its high energy density and zero carbon emissions, is gaining prominence, and efficient hydrogen storage is thus a critical area of research. Storing hydrogen in a solid form by forming hydrates, ensuring straightforward formation and dissociation, environmental friendliness, and stability, is emerging as a new technology. In particular, the use of thermodynamic promoters such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) to form binary hydrogen hydrates enables hydrogen storage under much milder conditions compared to traditional compression and liquefaction processes. However, slow hydrate formation kinetics currently hinder commercialization, necessitating breakthroughs in this area. This study reports extremely rapid and high hydrogen uptake in binary hydrogen + THF hydrates by utilizing a water-in-oil emulsion. A hydrogen storage capacity of approximately 51.23 mmol H2/mol H2O and the hydrogen uptake rate of 91.71 mol min−1 m−3 water were achieved, significantly outperforming existing studies conducted at pressures below 15 MPa. This remarkable kinetics was achieved by controlling the distribution of THF within a ternary emulsion system composed of water, isooctane, and THF. Phase equilibrium measurements and a series of kinetic tests validated that using an excess of THF over stoichiometric amounts can lead to such high and rapid hydrogen uptake. Consequently, a hydrate formation mechanism in the emulsified system was suggested based on the results of a Raman analysis, water droplet size measurements, and 1H NMR analysis. These results will pave the way for further advances in practical hydrate-based hydrogen storage technology.

Transition-metal-based hydrides for efficient hydrogen storage and their multiple bond analysis: A first-principles calculation

Hydrogen energy plays a growing role in the present energy market and attracts more attention in scientific researches and commercial application. Hydrogen energy has an increasing attractive in energy market due to its high energy density, pollution-free utilization usage and wide availability. Current challenge which obstructs large-scale application is safe and reliable hydrogen storage, which requires finding promising materials to promote hydrogen energy. Therefore, we have predicted three potential lithium-transition metal-based hydrides LiTM3LiH8 (TM = Sc, Ti V) for hydrogen storage based on first principles calculation. The stability analysis based on formation energy, elastic constants and phonon spectra confirms all hydrides are stable and feasible in practical application. Besides, they have a increasing ductility in the order of Sc, Ti and V. Among all studied materials, LiV3LiH8 has the best mechanical characteristics due to its excellent ductility and high Young's modulus (123.19 GPa), which are beneficial for resistance to adverse external surroundings. The electronic properties suggest that all hydrides metallic in band structures. Meanwhile, we analyzed how hydrogen was storage and the binding information from multiple perspectives, including the charge analysis, DOS, ELF and COHP. From multiple analyses of bond strengths, except the strong binding from transition metal, the centered Li atom is verified to possess greater influence than corner Li atom, which makes a viable regulation of hydrogen properties by substituting centered alkali metal atom in future. As concluded in this study, LiTi3LiH8 has a high storage capacity of 4.83 wt% along with a desorption temperature of 305.5 K, which is considered as a promising hydrogen storage material.

Prediction of the optimal hydrogen storage in high entropy alloys

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in nature, characterized by its vast resources, recyclability, and environmentally friendly. Also, it can exist in various forms, such as gas, liquid, or solid, to meet different storage needs. In solid-state storage, the hydrogen storage alloys have received widespread attention due to hydrogen is stored in the form of hydrides. In recent years, high entropy alloys (HEAs), as a new type of novel alloy design concept have attracted a lot of attention in many fields including hydrogen storage due to their unique structures and excellent properties. Moreover, the freedom of element selection leads to various types of HEAs, further enhancing the potential for their application in hydrogen storage. This article focuses on the hydrogen storage performance of HEAs and provides a comprehensive overview of the hydrogen storage mechanism, thermodynamics, and kinetics. Additionally, we summarize and compare the hydrogen storage capacities of previously published HEAs and introduce two empirical parameters, valence electron concentration (VEC) and atomic size difference (δ), and their relationship with hydrogen storage capacity. By applying the K-means clustering algorithm, we conclude that the optimal hydrogen storage capacity of HEAs occurs when 4 <VEC < 6 and 5.3 % <δ < 7.5 %. This finding offers valuable guidance for the future design of efficient hydrogen storage HEAs.

Efficient hydrogen storage using Pt-incorporated nitrogen/oxygen-containing activated carbon with an ultra-large pore volume

Developing efficient hydrogen storage technologies is essential for meeting the rapidly increasing energy demand and promoting the hydrogen economy. In this study, hierarchical porous activated carbon (HPAC) with nitrogen and oxygen surface atoms, and an ultra-large total pore volume (3.00 cc/g) was prepared via a single-step synthesis using melamine, terephthalaldehyde, and KOH. Subsequently, a series of Ptx@HPAC materials was prepared by introducing Pt nanoparticles at varied concentrations (x = 5, 10, and 15 wt%). As the Pt concentration increased, the H2 storage performance at room temperature showed steady improvement, with Pt10@HPAC achieving a 31 % higher H2 uptake compared to pristine HPAC and demonstrating an impressive spillover efficiency of 4.7. This can be explained by the even dispersion of Pt by nitrogen and oxygen surface atoms. Moreover, due to considerably large total pore volume, Pt10@HPAC showed a large total H2 uptake (1.34 wt%) at 298 K and 40 bar, which is superior to that of other metal-doped adsorbents with similar excess H2 uptakes. The incorporation of Pt into nitrogen/oxygen-containing activated carbon with an ultra-large pore volume is an effective strategy for developing efficient materials for H2 storage at room temperature.

Unlocking the potential of borophene nanoribbons for efficient hydrogen storage

This research explores the structural, electronic, optical, and hydrogen storage properties of borophene nanoribbons (BNRs) with armchair (ANR-B-H) and zigzag (ZNR B-H) edges. Computational simulations optimized these structures, revealing that 7ZNR-B-H has a superior binding energy. Chemical modifications, such as fluorine passivation and functionalization, influenced bond parameters and quantum properties. Bilayer BNRs showed increased stability and enhanced electrical conductivity. Our study demonstrated promising hydrogen storage capabilities, with passivated and functionalized BNRs achieving suitable adsorption energies and a significant gravimetric storage capacity of 20.32 wt%, exceeding DOE standards. NH2 functionalization notably improved adsorption energy, enhancing potential for efficient hydrogen storage. Changes in absorption spectra post-H2 adsorption further highlight BNRs’ potential for hydrogen storage applications. These findings provide valuable insights into BNRs, paving the way for their use in electronic devices and hydrogen storage systems.

Ni/V-MgnHm nanoclusters: Recent advances toward improving the dehydrogenation thermodynamics for efficient hydrogen storage

Understanding the properties of solid-state materials at the nanoscale is a crucial scientific endeavor in the pursuit of a sustainable energy future. Since magnesium hydride is the most practical material for hydrogen storage, research is still ongoing to reduce the enthalpy for dehydrogenation. In this computational theory, we systematically investigated the enthalpy of dehydrogenation of MgnHm nanoclusters of different sizes (0.5–2.8 nm) through density functional theory (DFT) and ab-initio molecular dynamic (AIMD) simulations. Our results revealed that increasing the MgnHm nanocluster size can remarkably improve the formation energy compared to the MgH2-bulk stabilization; the formation energy shifted from −65.12 kJ/mol for (0.5 nm)-MgnHm nanocluster to −51.37 kJ/mol for (2.8 nm)-MgnHm nanocluster. As compared to bulk phase, the lower stability of the nanoclusters indicates that it is much easier to desorb hydrogen from the surface. According to the effects of compressive/tensile strains, (2.8 nm)-MgnHm nanocluster does not improve the dehydrogenation temperature in the desired direction. Unlike metal doping, 9.10%@Ni and 10.14%@V-doped (2.8 nm)-MgnHm nanocluster exhibit formation energies of −47.27 and −46.34 kJ/mol with calculated desorption temperatures of 362.89 and 355.75 K, respectively, which ensures the room temperature applicability of this hydrogen storage material.

Highly selective interconversion of quinoxaline and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxaline over a spinel CuCo2O4 electrocatalyst supported by Ni foam

An efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen storage system using CuCo2O4 supported by Ni foam (CuCo2O4/NF) as a bifunctional electrocatalyst and quinoxaline as a hydrogen storage carrier was developed. Electrochemical tests were conducted at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The results showed that the conversion and selectivity of hydrogenation reached 93 % and 99 %, respectively, within 3 h at −0.18 V (vs. RHE). Meanwhile, the conversion and selectivity of dehydrogenation both reached 100 % within 20 min at 1.30 V (vs. RHE). Moreover, due to the excellent durability of CuCo2O4/NF, the hydrogenation conversion remained as high as 89 % after 8 cycles.

Zr doped C24 fullerene as efficient hydrogen storage material: insights from DFT simulations

Zr doped C24 fullerene as efficient hydrogen storage material: insights from DFT simulations

Rapid hydrogen enclathration and unprecedented tuning phenomenon within superabsorbent polymers

Clathrate hydrate has emerged as a potentially viable storage medium for efficient hydrogen storage, owing to its eco-friendly characteristics and high hydrogen storage capacity. However, it is essential for its practical application to address the challenges posed by harsh thermodynamic formation conditions and slow formation kinetics for hydrogen hydrate. Here, we introduce the utilization of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) as a dispersion matrix for tetrahydrofuran (THF) solutions to develop a method for rapid hydrogen enclathration. We investigated two distinct synthetic pathways, solution-borne and hydrate-borne routes. We also explored the relationship between hydrogen uptake/storage capacity, varying THF solution concentration within SAPs, and synthetic pathways for binary THF–hydrogen hydrates. The hydrogen storage capacity after 200 min enclathration reaction was relatively low for 1.0 mol% THF cases but significant for 5.56 mol% THF cases in hydrate-borne route (around 20 mmol H2/mol water), highlighting its potential for hydrogen storage material. The spectroscopic analysis revealed that the tuning phenomenon in THF 1.0 mol% hydrate was only observed in the solution-borne route, which facilitated hydrogen enclathration in partially vacant large cages of sII hydrates. It was striking that the tuning phenomenon was also observed in THF 5.56 mol% hydrate synthesized in both solution-borne and hydrate-borne pathways. Through phase equilibria measurements, we confirmed that less than 5.56 mol% of THF participated in forming binary hydrates. The different water and THF absorbability of SAPs resulted in a non-uniform distribution of THF solution within SAPs, causing the unprecedented tuning phenomenon. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential of SAPs for rapid hydrogen enclathration media, emphasizing the importance of understanding synthetic pathways and solution absorption properties for optimized hydrogen storage.

Highly Dispersed Pd‐CeOx Nanoparticles in Zeolite Nanosheets for Efficient CO2‐Mediated Hydrogen Storage and Release

AbstractFormic acid (FA) dehydrogenation and CO2 hydrogenation to FA/formate represent promising methodologies for the efficient and clean storage and release of hydrogen, forming a CO2‐neutral energy cycle. Here, we report the synthesis of highly dispersed and stable bimetallic Pd‐based nanoparticles, immobilized on self‐pillared silicalite‐1 (SP‐S‐1) zeolite nanosheets using an incipient wetness co‐impregnation technique. Owing to the highly accessible active sites, effective mass transfer, exceptional hydrophilicity, and the synergistic effect of the bimetallic species, the optimized PdCe0.2/SP‐S‐1 catalyst demonstrated unparalleled catalytic performance in both FA dehydrogenation and CO2 hydrogenation to formate. Remarkably, it achieved a hydrogen generation rate of 5974 molH2 molPd−1 h−1 and a formate production rate of 536 molformate molPd−1 h−1 at 50 °C, surpassing most previously reported heterogeneous catalysts under similar conditions. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the interfacial effect between Pd and cerium oxide clusters substantially reduces the activation barriers for both reactions, thereby increasing the catalytic performance. Our research not only showcases a compelling application of zeolite nanosheet‐supported bimetallic nanocatalysts in CO2‐mediated hydrogen storage and release but also contributes valuable insights towards the development of safe, efficient, and sustainable hydrogen technologies.

Highly Dispersed Pd-CeOx Nanoparticles in Zeolite Nanosheets for Efficient CO2-Mediated Hydrogen Storage and Release.

Formic acid (FA) dehydrogenation and CO2 hydrogenation to FA/formate represent promising methodologies for the efficient and clean storage and release of hydrogen, forming a CO2-neutral energy cycle. Here, we report the synthesis of highly dispersed and stable bimetallic Pd-based nanoparticles, immobilized on self-pillared silicalite-1 (SP-S-1) zeolite nanosheets using an incipient wetness co-impregnation technique. Owing to the highly accessible active sites, effective mass transfer, exceptional hydrophilicity, and the synergistic effect of the bimetallic species, the optimized PdCe0.2/SP-S-1 catalyst demonstrated unparalleled catalytic performance in both FA dehydrogenation and CO2 hydrogenation to formate. Remarkably, it achieved a hydrogen generation rate of 5974 molH2 molPd -1 h-1 and a formate production rate of 536 molformate molPd -1 h-1 at 50 °C, surpassing most previously reported heterogeneous catalysts under similar conditions. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the interfacial effect between Pd and cerium oxide clusters substantially reduces the activation barriers for both reactions, thereby increasing the catalytic performance. Our research not only showcases a compelling application of zeolite nanosheet-supported bimetallic nanocatalysts in CO2-mediated hydrogen storage and release but also contributes valuable insights towards the development of safe, efficient, and sustainable hydrogen technologies.

Maximizing Onboard Hydrogen Storage Capacity by Exploring High-Strength Novel Materials Using a Mathematical Approach.

Hydrogen fuel holds promise for clean energy solutions, particularly in onboard applications such as fuel cell vehicles. However, the development of efficient hydrogen storage systems remains a critical challenge. This study addresses this challenge by exploring the potential of high-strength novel materials, including glass, to maximize onboard hydrogen storage capacity. A mathematical approach was employed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of various high-strength materials for hydrogen storage. This study focused on capillary arrays as a promising storage medium and utilized mathematical modeling techniques to estimate the storage capacity enhancement achievable with different materials. The analysis revealed significant variations in storage capacity enhancements in different high-strength novel materials, with glass having promising results. Glass-based materials demonstrated the potential to meet or exceed US Department of Energy (DOE) targets for both gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen storage capacities in capillary arrays. By leveraging a mathematical approach, this study identified high-strength novel materials, including glass and polymers, capable of substantially improving onboard hydrogen storage capacity: 29 wt.% with 40 g/L for quartz glass and 25 wt.% with 38 g/L for Kevlar compared to 5.2 wt.% with 26.3 g/L from a conventional type IV tank. These findings underscore the importance of material selection in optimizing hydrogen storage systems and provide valuable insights for the design and development of next-generation hydrogen storage technologies for onboard applications.

High entropy alloys for hydrogen storage applications: A machine learning-based approach

Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier and has potential applications in energy storage, power generation, and transportation. This study explores the efficient and safe storage of hydrogen, particularly through solid-state methods using high entropy alloys (HEAs). HEAs have garnered attention for their versatility in tailoring properties for hydrogen storage. The integration of Machine Learning (ML) in designing HEAs offers an expedited approach, analyzing datasets and predicting material properties to enhance storage capacity, kinetics, and stability. Despite significant progress, the study acknowledges certain research limitations, particularly its relatively narrow focus on applying ML to HEAs for hydrogen storage. One of the biggest challenges with HEAs is their complexity, which.necessitates larger datasets to develop accurate predictive models. Collecting and analyzing existing HEA data for hydrogen storage using ML techniques is the main objective. Using algorithms like support vector regression (SVR), K-nearest (KNN), and random forest (RF), hydrogen-to-metal ratio (H/M) and valence electron configuration (VEC) are accurately predicted. The study proposes alloys with potential for HEA formation, identifying 741 with quaternary and 631 with quinary HEAs. These compositions are newly proposed and do not yet exist. Out of these, 774 HEAs are identified as potential candidates for hydrogen storage applications. Applying ML techniques, the selection process is more efficient, reducing the dependency on time-consuming experiments and making it easier to discover promising candidates.

Size-dependent activity modulation of supported Ni nanocatalysts for efficient solid-state hydrogen storage in magnesium

The activity of Nickel (Ni)-based catalysts strongly depends on their particle size and dispersion; however, achieving controllable preparation of uniform particle size with high activity remains a great challenge for Ni-based catalysts to promote efficient hydrogen storage. Here, we employ a facile Carbothermal Shock (CTS) method to obtain carbon fiber-loaded Ni-based nanocatalysts (Ni@CC) with high dispersibility and size-dependent properties, which can exhibit superior catalytic effects for solid-state hydrogen storage in MgH2. It was found that the shorter the CTS duration, the smaller the size of the Ni nanoparticles, and the better the catalytic effect. Among these, the MgH2-Ni@CC with a CTS duration of 30 s showed the best hydrogen storage performance. Its activation energy for hydrogen release was significantly decreased from 158.3 kJ⋅mol−1 for milled MgH2 to 98.6 kJ⋅mol−1. More importantly, the retention rate of hydrogen absorption capacity is 95.1 % after 30 cycles, which far exceeds the 65.5 % retention rate observed in milled MgH2. These property enhancements can be attributed to the presence of nano-sized Ni and its in situ derived Mg2Ni intermediate phases, which create more channels for hydrogen atoms diffusion. Meanwhile, the close contact between nano-Ni and the Mg/MgH2 matrix can provide active catalytic sites and low-energy interfaces for facilitating hydrogen adsorption and desorption. Our study presents a promising approach to significantly improve the hydrogen storage performance of MgH2 by modulating size-dependent catalytic activity.

Fabrication and characterization of rippled graphene/LDPE composites with enhanced hydrogen barrier properties

Hydrogen plays a pivotal role as a sustainable energy carrier, but the cost-effective and efficient production of gas barrier materials for hydrogen storage still poses a considerable challenge. In this research, we investigate the hydrogen barrier properties of nanocomposites based on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) filled with varying concentrations (0–5 wt%) of rippled graphene. The low-density polyethylene rippled graphene (LPRG) nanocomposites were prepared by drop-casting a suspension of graphene with LDPE dissolved in Toluene, which resulted in a uniform dispersion of rippled graphene within the LDPE matrix. Mechanical testing revealed notable improvements in tensile strength (+40%) and Young's modulus (+120%), confirming the reinforcing effect of rippled graphene in the polymer matrix. Results from the thermogravimetric analysis showed that the addition of rippled graphene significantly increased the thermal stability of the material, reporting an increase of 77 °C in the thermal degradation temperature at a nanofiller loading of 1 wt%. Additionally, the incorporation of rippled graphene in the composite improved the thermal conductivity by 161 %. Moreover, it resulted in an electrically percolated network at a critical nanofiller loading of 1 wt%, contributing to enhanced electrostatic discharge safety. Finally, gas permeability tests unveiled a 50% reduction in hydrogen permeability of LPRG with graphene content of 5 wt% compared to pristine LDPE, making graphene/LDPE composites a superior choice for sustainable and efficient hydrogen storage applications.