Graphitic Nano-fibers – A Candidate for Hydrogen Storage

In-situ X-ray diffraction studies of catalyst activation followed by the preparation of graphitic nano-fibers have been performed. The results show the ability of the graphitic nano-fibers to absorb H2 gas and the quantification of the changes in the lattice spacings associated with gas absorption.

For many years nano-structured carbon materials have been intensely studied (1-4) and are used for various applications, e.g. as catalyst support, for Liion-batteries and as emitter materials.

They are also of major interest as media for hydrogen storage.

Nano-structured carbon materials can be produced by different procedures, among them catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CCVD).

In this work in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies were performed to investigate the CCVD synthesis of graphitic nanofibers (GNF) and their potential as hy-drogen storage materials. In this respect, the behavior of the synthesized fibers during high temperature activation and during adsorption/desorption of hydrogen was investigated.

Thermodesorption spectroscopy (TDS/MS) was used to analyze the amount of adsorbed hydrogen as well as the surface species of the different carbon materials.

The morphology of the fibers was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

The in-situ X-ray diffraction studies were performed with the XRK 900 reactor chamber by Anton Paar. (5)

 

References

1. B. K. Gupta, O. N. Sristava, Internat. J. of Hydrogen Energy, 25 (2000) 825-830; 26 (2001) 857-862
2. C. Park, P. E. Anderson, A. Chambers, C. D. Tan, R. Hidalgo, N. M. Rodriguez, J. Appl. Chem. B 103 (1999) 10572-10581
3. A. C. Dillon, M. J. Heben, Appl. Phys. A 72 (2001) 133-142
4. U. Bünger, W. Zittel, Appl. Phys. A 72 (2001) 147- 151
5. K. Richter, B. Peplinski, G. Steinert, Pat. AT 401.822 (1996) 

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